Coronavirus: Here's When Mecklenburg Could See Peak Case Count

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — Hospitalizations stemming from novel coronavirus could begin to overwhelm Mecklenburg County hospitals by mid- to late-June, according to new projections released by the Mecklenburg County Health Department.

"This means we would not have enough beds, staffing, supplies, and life-saving ventilators to care for everyone in our community and region," MCHD said Monday.

Projections, however, are volatile and forecasts change with new adjustments, such as through stay-at-home orders, county health officials said.

"There has not yet been a dramatic acceleration in new cases and the number of new cases each day is starting to trend downward. This suggests we continue to make progress toward 'flattening the curve,'" which pushes the projected peak dates further out," MCHD said. "While this may result in the same number of people being infected overall, the lower peak over a longer period of time allows the county and the healthcare systems to adequately prepare for extended capacity."

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More than a month into the outbreak in North Carolina and Mecklenburg County remains the hardest hit county in the state in terms of infections and fatalities from the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. As of April 21, there were 1,255 county residents confirmed to have COVID-19, and at least 32 related deaths.

Statewide, there were at least 6,951 cases of coronavirus confirmed Tuesday morning, and 213 state residents had lost their lives due to coronavirus-related illness, according to state officials.

SEE ALSO: Cooper To Soon Announce Plan To Ease NC Coronavirus Restrictions

The number of outbreaks confirmed in congregate living facilities in the state, such as nursing homes and residential care facilities, continues to rise as deaths reported in these facilities claim about 45 percent of the state's death toll.

Eight Mecklenburg County long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, are reporting coronavirus outbreaks, according to the health department. As of Tuesday, the Mecklenburg County facilties were among 38 nursing homes and 14 residential care facilities in the state reporting an outbreak of COVID-19.

Those Mecklenburg facilities include:

• Hunter Woods Nursing & Rehab Center, 620 Tom Hunter Road, Charlotte
• Huntersville Oaks, 10219 Verhoeff Drive, Huntersville
• Pavillion Health Center, 10011 Providence Road West, Charlotte
• Autumn Care of Cornelius, 19530 Mt. Zion Avenue, Cornelius
• The Social at Cotswold, 3610 Randolph Road Charlotte
• Carrington Place Rehab & Living Center, 600 Fullwood Lane, Matthews
• The Laurels, 13180, Dorman Road, Pineville
• Charlotte Square, 5820 Carmel Road, Charlotte

Here's a breakout of how many of the current COVID-19 cases in Mecklenburg are present in the Lake Norman region of Mecklenburg County as of April 20, according to county health data:

• Davidson (zip code 28036): 5-20 cases
• Cornelius (zip code 28031): 21-40 cases
• Huntersville (zip code 28078): 41-54 cases

The most infected age group in Mecklenburg County is that of people ages 40 to 59, according to Mecklenburg County Public Health. They account for 36.9 percent of the county's positive tests. The 20 to 39 age group accounts for 32.4 percent of the county's positive tests, followed by the group of those age 60 or older, who account for 28.1 percent of the cases.

According to MCPH, nearly 78 percent of the confirmed COVID cases in Mecklenburg County have not required hospitalization.

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