Mecklenburg County hits its second highest daily increase in COVID cases

Mecklenburg County has seen its second highest daily increase in COVID-19 cases, with 400 reported on Friday.

The record highest daily increase in Mecklenburg was 430 on July 3, according to an Observer analysis of state data.

Also Friday, Mecklenburg Health officials reported an additional COVID-19 outbreak at a Charlotte childcare facility, at Kindercare at 1700 Providence Road. The county did not detail the scope of the outbreak.

The latest data from Mecklenburg County show two other childcare facilities with active COVID-19 outbreaks: Smart Kids Childcare Center No. 3 on E. W.T. Harris Boulevard and Heaven’s Angels Childcare on The Plaza.

There are a total of 26 active outbreaks in congregate living facilities, which include local nursing homes, rehab centers, senior living facilities, group homes and the Mecklenburg County Detention Center.

New outbreaks were also reported at Charlotte Health and Rehab and Harmony Recovery Center, according to health officials.

Since mid-March, Mecklenburg county has seen 14,157 total cases, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.

There have been 164 deaths related to the coronavirus in Mecklenburg.

The state saw 1,982 new cases Friday. In total, North Carolina has reported 81,331 cases since March.

DHHS reported 18 additional deaths, bringing the state’s total to 1,479.

Currently 1,046 are hospitalized in North Carolina.

Mecklenburg COVID-19 update

As of July 8 — the last date demographic data was publicly available — county coronavirus data show:

▪ During the past week, an average of 175 individuals with lab 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 11.4% of individuals who were tested were positive for COVID-19 during the past week. Mecklenburg County Public Health says this represents a “slight decline followed by a slight increase” over the last 14 days. These data only include tests conducted by Atrium Health, Novant Health and CVS Health.

▪ Most people — about three in four — were ages 20 to 59 years old.

▪ After symptoms of the novel coronavirus subside, a person who has been diagnosed with it may be “released” from isolation under CDC guidelines. In Mecklenburg, nearly half of the people who tested positive have met the criteria to end isolation, according to local health officials.

▪ About 1 in 20 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.

▪ The majority of people who have died from COVID-19 locally were connected to “active outbreaks” in long-term care facilities or nursing homes.

This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 1:06 PM.