More Mecklenburg COVID-19 cases, 3 new deaths reported as NC moves to face mask mandate

As North Carolina prepares for a new mandate of face coverings in public spaces, state health officials on Thursday reported 281 new coronavirus cases confirmed in Mecklenburg County.

Gov. Roy Cooper announced the mask requirement Wednesday, which he said would slow the spread of the virus and help the state’s economy. The order, which takes effect Friday at 5 p.m., requires people to wear face masks in public areas including businesses, restaurants, child care facilities, and public transportation.

Exceptions to the order exist for children under the age of 11, people with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask, and people who are exercising outdoors. Cooper’s executive order also delays the next phase of reopening by at least three weeks.

Since the state first moved into Phase Two last month, the number of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations for COVID-19 have continued to climb in Mecklenburg and across the state.

Mecklenburg has seen a total of 9,614 coronavirus cases since mid-March, the state Department of Health and Human Services reports.

County health officials said late Wednesday that three more people have died, increasing the number of local deaths in the past week to 13. In total, 147 people have died locally, and more than half of those were people connected to nursing homes or long-term care facilities, according to the health department.

Statewide, DHHS reported 1,009 new cases Thursday, for a total of 57,183. The number of deaths rose by 19 for a total of 1,290.

Coronavirus trends in North Carolina have also led to concern among lawmakers in other states. The governors of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey announced Wednesday that incoming travelers from North Carolina and several other states will be asked to quarantine for 14 days. The travel advisory applies to states with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents on a seven-day average and states with a test positivity rate of 10 percent or higher over seven days.

Mecklenburg COVID-19 update

As of June 21 — the last date demographic data was publicly available — county coronavirus data show:

▪ During the past week, an average of 128 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 9.4% of individuals who were tested were positive for COVID-19 during the past week. This represents a slight decrease 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 15 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.

▪ Over the past 14 days there has been a decrease in social distancing, based on publicly available mobility data.