558 Cases Reported Over Holiday Weekend: Iredell COVID-19 Update

MOORESVILLE, NC — The spread of COVID-19 in Iredell County rose by 558 newly confirmed cases over the holiday weekend, according to county health data released Tuesday afternoon.

As of Jan. 19, the county reported 12,311 cases, up from 11,753 cases reported Jan. 15, according to the Iredell County Health Department.

The county's death toll also rose by four deaths over the four-day period, increasing the number of lives lost to the virus since March in the county to at least 152.

Not all news was grim, however. Coronavirus hospitalizations dipped slightly over the long weekend, from 68 patients reported Jan. 15 to 66 reported Jan. 19.

Iredell County is one of 84 counties in the state where coronavirus spread is considered to be at a critical level, according to DHHS.

Iredell-Statesville Schools reported Friday that more than 700 students and 121 school district staff members either reported symptoms or were in quarantine out of caution. Additionally, between Jan. 8 and Jan. 14, at least 26 students and 17 school district staff members tested positive for COVID-19, the school district said.

Of the students reported as out, at least 219 were in quarantine due to a school contact, 376 were in quarantine from a possible community contact, and 139 were isolating with COVID-19 symptoms, ISS said. Among staff members, at least 38 were in quarantine due to a school contact, 50 were in quarantine from a possible community contact, and 33 were isolating with COVID-19 symptoms.

Healthcare workers, long-term care workers and anyone 75 years and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination during drive-through vaccination events in Iredell County on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21.

On Wednesday, Jan. 20, a vaccination event will be held at Mazeppa Park, located at 645 Mazeppa Road in Mooresville beginning at 10 a.m.

On Thursday, Jan. 21, a vaccination event will be held at Hebron Baptist Church, located at 175 Hebron Road in Statesville beginning at 10 a.m. Organizers said that for this event, participants are asked to approach the event via Tomlin Mill Road and Fairmount Road.
Health officials ask that participants print out and complete a registration form, which may be found here.

"Numbers will be handed out upon arrival. Everyone that receives a number will be vaccinated. If you do not receive a number, there will be an additional vaccination clinic next week," Iredell County Health Department said.

Participants in the vaccination clinic are not required to be Iredell County residents.
"We encourage individuals to seek vaccination in their county of residence, but we will accommodate individuals who work in Iredell, live elsewhere, or individuals who live closer to an Iredell County vaccination clinic than a clinic in their county of residence," Megan Redford, spokesperson for the Iredell County Health Department, told Patch.

More information about COVID-19 vaccination distribution in Iredell County may be found here.

North Carolina reported more than 4,000 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday as the state's death toll rose to 8,139, according to data reported by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

SEE ALSO:

• Mooresville COVID Vaccination Events To Offer Doses To 75 And Up
• Police Assist FBI Agents Executing Search Warrant In Mooresville
• Davidson Mayor Followed COVID Guidelines, 'Still Tested Positive'
• 734 Iredell Students Out Of School Due To COVID-19 Caution