Mecklenburg COVID Update: 'Slight Uptick' In Cases

CHARLOTTE, NC — Mecklenburg County is experiencing a "slight uptick" in COVID-19 metrics, from daily case count averages to a rising percent positive rate, the county's top public health official said Friday.

"We're back up to 6.5 percent, unfortunately," Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris said.

As of Friday, Mecklenburg County's COVID-19 case count rose to nearly 101,000 cases.

The increases are likely fueled by warmer weather, she said. "People are getting out more, they're going to restaurants, they're going to bars, they're going to breweries," Harris said. While health officials aren't surprised about the trend, it comes as the county recorded a substantial decline in COVID numbers over a six-week period.

"We do know there are variants in our community that are starting to spread, so that could be contributing to it as well," Harris said.

There is some good news, according to Harris. Mecklenburg County's daily hospitalization rate continues to decline slowly, and outbreaks and clusters are "at a much reduced level," with 14 reported, she added.

The news comes as coronavirus restrictions are set to ease throughout the state. Earlier this week, Gov. Roy Cooper announced a new executive order would go into effect at 5 p.m. March 26 will allow for increased capacity at retail businesses, gyms, and sports venues.

SEE ALSO: Mass Gathering, Capacity Limits To Ease In New NC Executive Order

Vaccination rates in Mecklenburg County are falling behind the pace statewide, however. As of Friday, about 17 percent of adult residents in the county had received at least one dose of vaccine, with about 11 percent of adults residents fully vaccinated. By comparison, state public health officials said earlier this week that overall, nearly a third of adults in North Carolina were partially vaccinated, with nearly 19 percent fully vaccinated.

"I just want to caution people that we will continue to need to ask for patience," Harris said. "We are getting larger amounts of vaccine into the community, but there's not going to be enough that very first week that you're eligible for everyone to get vaccine."

SEE ALSO: Cooper Announces Expedited Vaccine Eligibility Timeline For NC

As capacity limits ease across the state starting Friday under the new executive order, Harris urged residents "to be smart" and use common sense.

"Everybody is anxious to get out. Everybody wants to be out in the community, but we need to be sure that we're continuing to be safe because we don't have enough people vaccinated and we still high level of virus in our community," she said.