Coronavirus Update: Case Count Nears 1,000 In Mecklenburg County

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — The number of novel coronavirus cases in Mecklenburg County has surged to 993, and led to at least 15 related deaths, county and state health officials said Tuesday. The development comes as the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, continues to rise throughout the state, with cases present in 93 of the state's 100 counties.

North Carolina health officials reported 5,024 positive cases of COVID-19 Tuesday morning, an increase of 208 cases from Monday.

The death toll for the state increased by 22 new deaths by Tuesday morning, putting the statewide total at 108, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus also rose dramatically overnight, to 418, up from 313 Monday, health officials said. The number of hospitalizations reflects patients with COVID-19 who are currently hospitalized in reporting hospitals, the department said.

Mecklenburg County continues to be the hardest hit in North Carolina, followed by Wake County, which has seen 501 cases and no deaths.

Here's a breakout of how many 975 COVID-19 cases in Mecklenburg are present in the Lake Norman region of Mecklenburg County as of April 13, according to county health data:

• Davidson (zip code 28036): 1-18 cases
• Cornelius (zip code 28031): 19-30 cases
• Huntersville (zip code 28078): 31-42 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 38.2 percent of the county's positive tests. The 20 to 39 age group accounts for 33 percent of the county's positive tests, followed by the group of those age 60 or older, who account for 26.8 percent of the cases.

According to MCPH, about 77 percent of the confirmed COVID cases in Mecklenburg County have not required hospitalization.

Other North Carolina counties surpassing 100 cases include Durham County (297 cases, two deaths), Orange County (155 cases, two deaths), Cabarrus County (190 cases, three deaths), Forsyth County (121, four deaths), Guilford County, (137 cases, 10 deaths), Rowan County (201 cases, three deaths) and Union County (110 cases, three deaths).

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On Thursday, Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order for stronger social distancing requirements.

The order requires retail stores that are still operating to implement new social distancing policies to make shopping safer for customers and employees and makes earlier coronavirus guidelines mandatory for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

Stores must mark six feet of distance where people might gather, such as in checkout lines or outside stores waiting to enter, and should perform "frequent environmental cleaning and routine disinfecting."

"North Carolina continues to take strong action to slow the spread of COVID-19, and today's order will help make stores safer, protect those living and working in nursing homes, and get more unemployment benefits out quicker. Our state is resilient, and we will get through this crisis together if we all do our part," Cooper said Thursday.

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