Iredell COVID-19 Cases Surge To 327 As Testing Escalates

IREDELL COUNTY — The number of confirmed new coronavirus cases in Iredell County surged to 327 Friday afternoon, according to state public health officials, reflecting an increase of at least 50 new known in the county in less than three days. Friday marks the biggest day-over-day increase for the county, as testing efforts expand statewide.

A coronavirus outbreak previously reported at a Statesville nursing home is now over, state public health officials said Friday.

As of Friday afternoon, four people were hospitalized in the county, down from seven hospitalizations reported late last week.

Six county residents have lost their lives due to COVID-19 since collection of data related to the outbreak began in March.

As of Friday evening, about 5 percent of the county's confirmed cases were children under 17 years of age, Iredell County Health Department data indicated. Most of the cases — about 42 percent — were of residents who were 25 to 49 years old.

The county's COVID-19 case tally is cumulative and, as of June 5, included an estimated 222 cases that are assumed recovered, according to the health department.

At least 95 Iredell County residents with the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, were isolating in their homes as of Friday.

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Iredell County health officials are grouping cases into three regions of the county: North, Central and South. Here's a breakdown of where cases have been confirmed as of 4 p.m. June 5:

North Region (zip codes 27020, 27028, 27055, 28625, 28634, 28636, 28660, 28689 and 28678)

• 73 cases (up from 48 cases reported May 28)

Central Region (zip codes 27013, 28166, 28677)

• 119 cases (up from 88 cases reported May 28)

South Region (zip codes 28036, 28115, 28117, 28125)

• 135 cases (up from 104 cases reported May 28)

The county's COVID-19 count includes a confirmed outbreak at The Citadel nursing home in Mooresville, where one staff member and one resident have tested positive.

A previously reported outbreak involving three staff members and one resident at Autumn Care nursing home in Statesville is now considered over, a North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services report said Friday.

Health officials consider two or more cases at congregate living facilities, such as a nursing home or jail, to be an outbreak. As of Friday, state public health officials confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks in 95 nursing homes, 50 residential care facilities and 19 correctional facilities.

North Carolina labs confirmed 1,289 cases of COVID-19 Friday, increasing the state's total number to more than 33,000. There were six new coronavirus-related deaths reported in North Carolina since Thursday, pushing the death toll to 966, NC Department of Health and Human Services said.