17 new cases of coronavirus reported in Wake County, bringing its total to 49
There are 17 new cases of coronavirus in Wake County, bringing the total number of cases to 49.
Wake County had 32 cases on Friday.
There are more than 270 cases of COVID-19 in North Carolina as of Saturday evening. Forty-two of the state’s 100 counties have reported at least one case.
Mecklenburg County has reported the most cases with 77, followed by Wake County with 49 and Durham County with 40 cases.
“This is the largest single-day increase in positive cases that we have seen yet, but it’s not unexpected, based on how the virus is spreading in our community,” Dr. Jose Cabanas, Wake County EMS director/medical director who was overseeing public health operations Saturday in the Emergency Operations Center, said in a news release.
“Residents can help slow down the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the strain on our local healthcare system by continuing to practice social distancing and staying home when sick,” Cabanas said.
Wake County also reported Saturday evening that there are 59 people under investigation who were exposed to the coronavirus and have developed symptoms. Of the 59 people, 47 of them are waiting for test results and 12 are still in the process of being tested.
Wake County Public Health staff are contacting each person who tested positive and asking them to stay home for at least seven days after the onset of symptoms and not to go out in public until they are symptom-free for at least three days.
To slow the spread of illness, Gov. Roy Cooper has banned mass gatherings of 100 people or more, closed K-12 public schools and banned dine-in service at restaurants and bars.
This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 7:14 PM with the headline "17 new cases of coronavirus reported in Wake County, bringing its total to 49."
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