COVID-19 Update: 144 Cases Confirmed, 4 Deaths In Huntersville

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — At least 144 lab confirmed cases of novel coronavirus were reported in Huntersville Thursday, as the county's top health official made a public appeal to county residents to wear masks when they leave their homes.

"We should be wearing masks any time we are in a position where we cannot socially distance and we're outside of our houses," Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris said Thursday. "So anytime you're outside, whether it's in a store or on the street, if you're within six feet of any individual, you should be wearing a mask."

Last week, Harris said the Charlotte metro region is projected to see "pretty significant increases" in COVID-19 cases by mid-August to early September.

As of June 18, North Carolina confirmed 1,333 new COVID-19 cases, increasing the state's tally to more than 48,000 cases. More than 16 percent of the state's cases stem from spread in Mecklenburg County, which has been the hardest hit of North Carolina's 100 counties.

The high rate of spread has prompted state public health officials to surge testing and tracing resources to Mecklenburg County, as well as to Wake, Durham, Johnston, Alamance, Guilford, Forsyth, Lee and Duplin counties, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said.

Thursday, Mecklenburg County reported 7,804 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 130 deaths. That tally included 144 confirmed cases and four deaths in Huntersville, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates from health and government officials in North Carolina. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily.

RELATED:

• COVID-19 Cases Spike In NC, All Prison Inmates To Be Tested
• Masks And COVID-19 In North Carolina: Take Our Survey
  
• NC Nears 47,000 COVID-19 Cases As Hospitalizations Reach New High