Thanksgiving Leads To 'Critical' COVID-19 Spread In Iredell

MOORESVILLE, NC — Iredell County is experiencing a surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations following the Thanksgiving holiday, according to county health officials.

"After the Thanksgiving Holiday, Iredell County has experienced an immense rise in cases and hospitalizations moving us to the Red Category, indicating critical community spread," Iredell County Health Department said.

According to ICHD data released Monday afternoon, the county reported 7,311 known cases of COVID-19, representing an increase of 184 new cases confirmed in the span of three days and 907 new cases reported in a week. At least 62 county residents were hospitalized Monday, and 81 deaths attributed to the virus, according to the Iredell County Health Department.

SEE ALSO: 6 Cases Of Secondary COVID-19 Spread Reported In Iredell Schools

One month ago, on Nov. 17, the county reported moderate hospital impact from COVID-19 with a 14-day case rate of 308 cases and a positive rate of 8.4 percent.

"In just four weeks, we have grown to a case rate of 594, a positive rate of 12.8%, and are currently experiencing high hospital impact," ICHD said.

Iredell County health officials group cases into three regions of the county: North, Central and South. Here's a breakdown of how many cases were confirmed in each region as of 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14:

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

• 1,447 cases (up from 1,419 cases reported Dec. 11)

Central Region (zip codes 27013, 28166, 28677)

• 2,902 cases (up from 2,840 cases reported Dec. 11)

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

• 2,962 cases (up from 2,868 cases reported Dec. 11)

Iredell County is one of 48 counties in the state where the current spread of COVID-19 is at a critical level, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The number of North Carolina counties considered to have critical levels of community spread have more than doubled in the past two weeks, DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen said earlier this week.

According to the state's new color-coded COVID-19 County Alert System, 48 counties — including Iredell — are now considered "red," up from 20 reported Nov. 23, while 34 counties are "orange" due to substantial community spread.

"If you are in a red or orange county, you should limit going out to essential activities," Cohen said. "You should avoid people that you don't live with."

ICHD urged all community residents do the following to slow the spread of COVID-19:

• Avoid holiday travel and limit mixing between households and minimizing the number of people in your social circle.
• Wear a mask at all times outside the home and maintain physical distance from people who do not live in your household.
• Get tested if symptomatic or if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19
• Avoid settings where people congregate, like outdoor bars and night spots (in NC, indoor bars remain closed and indoor night spots must remain below indoor mass gathering limits).
• If patronizing restaurants, consider ordering take out from restaurants and/or eating outdoors socially distanced.
• If you choose to host or attend a gathering, limit attendance to 10 or fewer, host outdoors, and ventilate indoor spaces as much as possible (e.g., keep windows open).
• Individuals who are high-risk for developing serious illness should consider staying at home as much as possible.
• Reduce your public interactions to mainly essential activities like going to work or school, caring for family members, buying food, getting health care or picking up medications.

ICHD urged all Iredell businesses and community organization also do the following:

• Share messages about the importance of wearing a mask and practicing the 3Ws
• Provide face coverings to employees and patrons
• Support employees to stay home when sick and if they are close contacts to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
• Implement teleworking and working remotely to the greatest extent possible and cancel any non-essential work travel
• Community and religious organizations should avoid any in-person indoor meetings, events, worship services, or other gatherings above the indoor mass gathering limit
• Manufacturing, construction, food processing, farms – request a consultation from NCDHHS on reducing workplace transmission
• Promote community COVID-19 testing sites
• Follow NCDHHS general guidance for businesses and organizations

SEE ALSO:

• First Doses Of Vaccine Arrive In North Carolina: Gov. Cooper
  
• NC's Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution Plan: What You Need To Know
• Mecklenburg's COVID-19 Surge Prompts Warning From Officials
  
• COVID-19 Testing In Iredell: Where To Get A Free Test In December