Mecklenburg sees 2 more COVID-19 deaths and 204 new coronavirus cases 

More than 200 new cases of the coronavirus were reported Monday morning in Mecklenburg County and health officials say two more people have died.

COVID-19 cases continue to rise locally, coinciding with increased testing and less social distancing. In recent weeks, bars and restaurants have begun to draw larger crowds in Charlotte and stay-at-home orders have expired.

Mecklenburg County has seen a total of 8,956 coronavirus cases, according to state health data on Monday morning. This number is cumulative since mid-March.

The additional 204 new cases on Monday is slightly below the average number of new cases identified daily in the last week. Over the past seven days, the average number of new cases reported each day was 233.

Statewide, DHHS reported 804 new laboratory confirmed cases on Monday, for a total of 53,605. The state also saw three more deaths, for a total of 1,223 as of Monday morning.

Late Sunday, local health officials reported two more coronavirus related deaths in Mecklenburg County. Over the past week, 15 people with COVID-19 have died locally, bringing the total number of deaths since March 29 to 141. More than half of those were people connected to nursing homes or long-term care facilities, according to the health department.

However, the number of younger adults who have died from coronavirus complications has been on the rise in recent days. Three more deaths among people between the ages of 40 and 59 were reported in the county last week.

Across North Carolina, an even younger group may be partially responsible for increasing the spread of the virus, according to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen.

“As we dig into our data, we’re seeing that recent increases in our cases are really being driven by younger folks, people ages 25 to 49,” Cohen said at a press conference last Thursday. “And while younger people are at lower risk for severe COVID-19 disease, they still can spread it to others who are at higher risk.”

Mecklenburg COVID-19 update

As of June 17 — the last date demographic data was publicly available — county coronavirus data show:

▪ During the past week, an average of 118 individuals with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infections were hospitalized at acute care facilities in Mecklenburg County. This represents an increase over the last 14 days.

▪An average of 11% of individuals who were tested were positive for COVID-19 during the past week. This represents an increase over the last 14 days. These data only include tests conducted by Atrium Health and Novant Health.

▪ About 3 in 4 people diagnosed with COVID-19 locally were adults ages 20 to 59 years old.

▪ More than half of cases have met the criteria to be released from isolation.

▪ About 1 in 12 people diagnosed were hospitalized due to their illness. People age 60 or older were more likely to need hospital care compared to younger people with coronavirus.

County health officials have raised concerns in recent days over reduced social distancing. As more businesses reopen and travel has increased, mobility data show Charlotte and Mecklenburg residents have significantly reduced social distancing, which helped slow the spread of the coronavirus in the spring.

The health department late last week recommended that anyone who has been inside a crowded restaurant or brewery or who has attended a form of “mass gathering” should get tested for COVID-19.