7 new COVID-19 related deaths reported in Mecklenburg 

In Mecklenburg, seven more people have died from coronavirus-related complications, county health officials said late Wednesday. That brings the death toll locally to 86.

The county’s report of more COVID-19 deaths comes as several key metrics — used to measure the spread of COVID-19 in Mecklenburg — show slight increases since stay-at-home restrictions were eased. The latest data show hospitalizations and the percent of people tested who are positive have all increased slightly in Mecklenburg over a two-week period, the Observer reported Wednesday morning.

Total cases in Mecklenburg climbed to 3,530, an increase of 151 since Tuesday, local officials said.

Recent sharp increases in COVID-19 cases are partially tied to expanded coronavirus testing efforts, with Mecklenburg officials aiming to reach 5% of the population — or, about 55,500 — within 30 days. Atrium Health and Novant Health administered about 27,450 tests in the last 2.5 weeks, officials said Tuesday.

The virus has been particularly deadly for people age 60 or up, county data show.

Mecklenburg officials say about half of all COVID-related deaths in the county have been among people connected to long-term care centers or nursing homes. And nearly two-thirds of deaths have been among non-Hispanic whites, with county officials attributing the disparity in COVID-19 deaths to the race and ethnicity of residents at long-term care facilities.