New COVID-19 Cases, Deaths Reported In Iredell County

MOORESVILLE, NC — As COVID-19 surges are reported around the state and country, Iredell County's number of known coronavirus cases rose by 121 confirmed cases in one day, according to health department data released Wednesday.

The new cases increase the number of known COVID-19 cases in Iredell County to 6,033.

Three deaths were reported since Monday, increasing the county's death toll to 69 lives lost to the virus since March. At least 25 county residents remained hospitalized for COVID-19 illness as of Wednesday afternoon.

As of Dec. 2, the spread of coronavirus in the state was up to at least 371,594 confirmed cases and had claimed at least 5,366 lives since March, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported. As of Wednesday, the percentage of positive tests in North Carolina was 11.4 percent.

Iredell County health officials group cases into three regions of the county: North, Central and South. Here's a breakdown of how many cases were confirmed in each region as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2:

North Region (zip codes 27020, 27028, 27055, 28625, 28634, 28636, 28660, 28689 and 28678)

• 1,197 cases (up from 804 cases reported Oct. 30)

Central Region (zip codes 27013, 28166, 28677)

• 2,414 cases (up from 1,649 cases reported Oct. 30)

South Region (zip codes 28036, 28115, 28117, 28125)

• 2,422 cases (up from 1,588 cases reported Oct. 30)

SEE ALSO: Coronavirus Spread In Iredell County: See Your Risk Of Exposure

While cases continue to mount, there is optimistic news on the horizon, according to Gov. Roy Cooper, who outlined North Carolina's COVID-19 vaccination plan earlier this week. As soon as a vaccine is federal approved, the state is on track to receive 84,800 doses, which will be initially prioritized for frontline healthcare workers and those living and working in long term care facilities.

SEE ALSO: NC Health Officials Preparing For COVID-19 Vaccine Roll Out

Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna have applied for authorization by the Food and Drug Administration to begin using their COVID-19 vaccines. The FDA is set to review Pfizer's application Dec. 10 and Moderna's application on Dec. 17, CNN said. Both companies have reported data showing they are at least 94 percent or more effective in preventing COVID-19.

Should the FDA authorize the Pfizer vaccine next Thursday, it won't be long before frontline healthcare workers in North Carolina will begin receiving it, Cooper said. Once vaccines are federally cleared for use, they could begin arriving in North Carolina by mid December.

Vaccinations will be free for all state residents, regardless of insurance coverage, he added.

Globally, more than 64.6 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and more than 1.4 million people have died, Johns Hopkins University reported Thursday morning. In the United States, more than 13.9 million people have been infected and more than 273,000 people have died from COVID-19.

SEE ALSO:

• COVID-19 Testing In Iredell: Where To Get A Free Test In December
  
• Iredell Schools Report More Than A Dozen COVID-19 Cases In 2 Days
• 'Disposable Babysitters': Teaching In The Time Of A Pandemic