1 new death reported as Mecklenburg reaches 16,000+ total COVID-19 cases  

After a below-average report of new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, state health data showed a gain Thursday of 410 new cases in Mecklenburg County. That brings the total cumulative number of cases since mid-March to 16,360.

Over the past seven days, the average number of new cases reported daily in the county has been 372. A week ago the average was 279.

New coronavirus cases remain high in Mecklenburg and statewide, as county leaders plan new restrictions on late-night alcohol sales and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board opts for remote learning this fall.

One new death from COVID-19 was reported locally late Wednesday, for a total of 169 deaths in Mecklenburg. So far this month, county health officials have reported 19 coronavirus deaths. In June, officials reported 57 total and in May and April, the totals were 44 and 48, respectively. The county’s first death was reported March 29.

More than half of those who have died were people connected to nursing homes or long-term care facilities, according to the health department.

Statewide, DHHS reported 2,160 new cases Thursday, for a total of 93,426, and 20 more deaths, for a total of 1,588.

As Mecklenburg’s case count continues to grow, the school board voted in a Wednesday emergency meeting to move Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ classes to remote learning in the fall after a two-week in-person orientation.

Governor Roy Cooper has ordered school districts to maintain social distancing in the fall and choose between Plan B, of moderate social distancing, or Plan C, with only remote learning.

Mecklenburg COVID-19 update

As of July 12 — 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 11.5% 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 14,500 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 168 deaths recorded as of July 12 were among people who had no known underlying conditions. Twenty-two of the people who died were between the ages of 40 to 59, and one person was under the age of 40.