COVID-19 in Charlotte: Slight uptick in deaths. 295 new cases recorded in Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg County reported four new COVID-19 related deaths late Sunday, bringing the county’s total to 168.

The number of deaths over the past week has increased compared to weeks in late June and early July, according to a Charlotte Observer analysis of county health department data. In the week ending Sunday, a total of 13 deaths were reported. The total number of deaths the week prior was six and the week before that, in late June, deaths totaled eight.

Still, county data show, the number of deaths over the last seven days is lower than the weekly average of fatalities reported throughout much of June — the highest death toll so far came between June 1 and 7, when a total of 20 people with COVID-19 died.

On Monday, the county added 295 new coronavirus cases, the state Department of Health and Human Services reported. Meclenburg has seen a total of 15,319 coronavirus cases since March, state data show.

Statewide, DHHS reported 1,827 new cases Monday, for a total of 87,528, and seven more deaths, for a total of 1,510.

In surrounding counties, case counts and the rate of infections compared to population are significantly lower than in Mecklenburg, according to the state health department. The rate of cases per 10,000 residents in Mecklenburg County is 140, DHHS data show.

Nearby counties

▪ In Gaston County, there are a total of 1,859 cases and 15 death, as of Monday, according to state data. The rate of cases is 83 per 10,000 residents.

▪ In Union County, there are a total of 1,858 cases and 26 deaths. The rate of cases is 79.

▪ In Iredell County, there are a total of 1,138 cases and 10 deaths. The rate of cases is 64.

▪ In Cabarrus County, there are a total of 1,677 cases and 33 deaths. The rate of cases is 79.

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 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 11.4% of individuals who were tested were positive for COVID-19 during the past week. Mecklenburg County Public Health says this represents a “fairly stable trend” 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 out of nearly 13,300 cases — were adults ages 20 to 59 years old.

▪ After symptoms of coronavirus subside, a person diagnosed 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. Still, two of the 163 deaths recorded as of July 8 were among people who had no known underlying conditions. And 20 of the people who died were between the ages of 40 to 59.

This story was originally published July 13, 2020 at 1:45 PM.