31 Hospitalized As Iredell's COVID-19 Case Count Now At 1,251

MOORESVILLE, NC — County public health officials reported 1,251 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Iredell County Thursday afternoon, 49 more than reported less than a day earlier.

As of Thursday afternoon, 31 people in Iredell County were hospitalized with coronavirus-related illness and 12 county residents had died from the virus. At least 420 county residents who had tested positive were isolating in their homes, Iredell County Health Department said.

About 10 percent of all tests in Iredell County were positive, according to North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

State public health officials said Thursday that the spread of novel coronavirus had grown to 93,426 confirmed cases — 2,160 more cases than reported Wednesday. The state's COVID-19 death toll also increased to 1,588, an increase of 20 lives lost to the virus since Wednesday.

SEE ALSO: Mooresville Schools Considering 2 Options For Classes This Fall

Iredell County health officials are grouping cases into three regions of the county: North, Central and South. Here's a breakdown of where cases have been confirmed as of 4 p.m. Thursday, July 16:

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

• 288 cases (up from 251 cases reported July 10)

Central Region (zip codes 27013, 28166, 28677)

• 498 cases (up from 418 cases reported July 10)

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

• 465 cases (up from 361 cases reported July 10)

The county's COVID-19 case tally as of July 16 included an estimated 739 cases that were assumed recovered, ICHD said.

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Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday afternoon that North Carolina schools will reopen next month with in-person instruction with the implementation of safety protocols, such as social distancing and face coverings for everyone inside school buildings, while also offering families the option for remote learning.

Mooresville schools suspended all co-curricular activities Monday, citing the risks of novel coronavirus, as COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the state and community. The decision impacts all of the district's ongoing optional summer activities, such as football workouts, ROTC hikes and band camp, the school district said.

"We have made the decision to suspend optional co-curricular activities (this includes athletics, band, ROTC, etc) effective today," Mooresville Graded School District's said in a statement, via Facebook.

"Each time an individual exhibits symptoms, there is a turn-around time of at least three days to receive test results. This leaves us in limbo when deciding how to proceed with activities," the school district said. "We have decided at this time that the risks outweigh the benefits for our staff and students."

SEE ALSO:

• Mooresville Schools Suspend Football Workouts Due To COVID-19
• Coronavirus Relief Loans In Mooresville: Where PPP Money Went
• No Doctor's Referral Needed Now For COVID-19 Testing In NC
• Need A COVID-19 Test? Here's Where You Can Get One In Iredell
• Readers Say Too Soon For NC Schools To Safely Reopen: Survey