COVID Is Elevated In Iredell, 97 Other NC Counties, CDC Says

MOORESVILLE, NC — COVID-19 community spread is elevated in all but two of North Carolina's 100 counties, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

As of Friday, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is now using the CDC COVID tracking map, which is updated daily, to monitor the level of community transmission of coronavirus at the county level.

According to the CDC, COVID spread is high throughout most of North Carolina, while spread is "substantial" in nine counties: Watauga, Avery, Alleghany, Orange, Vance, Wilson, Bertie, Hertford and Northhampton counties. Only Hyde and Warren counties are listed as having moderate spread.

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In Iredell County, where fewer than 38 percent of adults are fully vaccinated, the number of COVID-19 cases rose by 66 percent in the past week. The 342 new cases increased the county's positivity rate to nearly 12 percent, according to the CDC. Hospitalizations also increased this week, by nearly 87 percent, with 28 new patients admitted in Iredell hospitals.

"CDC guidance recommends that everyone wear a mask in all indoor public spaces if you live in areas of high or substantial levels of transmission as defined by the CDC Community Transmission Map until more people are vaccinated and viral transmission decreases," DHHS said.

North Carolina reported 4,506 new known cases of COVID-19 Friday, increasing the statewide positivity rate to nearly 11 percent. At least 1,715 people were hospitalized around the state.

One out of every four of those seeking medical treatment for COVID-19 in North Carolina hospitals was being treated in an intensive care unit, DHHS said.

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