Spike In Iredell COVID Cases, Deaths Blamed On Holiday Gatherings

MOORESVILLE, NC — Family gatherings over holidays recently in Iredell County, compounded by asymptomatic spread of coronavirus, led to a "huge spike" in new cases and deaths in the community last month, according to the county's top public health official.

As of Feb. 4, the spread of COVID-19 in Iredell County increased to 14,880 cases and 179 deaths, representing an increase of 1,099 new cases and 11 deaths reported in the span of a week.

While the drum beat of new cases has steadily pounded since the collection of pandemic data began in the state last March, the virus has become particularly deadly in Iredell County in recent weeks. At least 40 percent of the county's deaths have occurred since Jan. 1, according to ICHD data.

Much of that is due to a spike in cases following Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, Iredell County Public Health Director Jane Hinson said.

"Viral transmission occurred when individuals traveled or visited with friends and relatives that don’t live in their immediate household," Hinson told Patch.

"We know that family gatherings and events have resulted in significant viral spread," she said. "CDC researchers just published findings that show that nearly 60 percent of COVID-19 spread may come from asymptomatic spread. Individuals assume that if their relatives and friends don’t look sick, they aren’t infected. This assumption contributed to the increase in cases and deaths."

Numbers are starting to come down. As of Thursday, for example, 47 people were hospitalized for coronavirus-related illness in Iredell County, down from an average of 72 reported in early January.

"We would expect to see a decrease in hospitalizations as our number of cases per week is decreasing following the Christmas spike," Hinson said.

Weeks after the holidays, however, and coronavirus spread continues to remain much higher than the state's average. Last week, between Sunday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 30, about 14.3 percent of COVID-19 tests conducted in Iredell County were positive, compared to the state rate of 7.2 percent.

"This means that we have critical community spread in Iredell County," Hinson said. "Residents need to always wear their cloth face covering when leaving home, frequently wash their hands and social distance. When they are eligible, they should get vaccinated. These public health preventive measures continue to be the best way to avoid becoming infected," she said.

Iredell County residents currently have four options for accessing vaccines in the county. Iredell County Health Department, Iredell Memorial Hospital, Davis Regional Hospital and Lake Norman Regional Hospital are the only healthcare providers administering the vaccine.

As of Friday, nearly 17,000 vaccines had been administered in Iredell County, of which about 13,000 were first doses and nearly 4,000 second doses. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, about 71 percent of first doses have been administered to those 65 years old and older.

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