Using Johns Hopkins University’s data, Cornelius Today compiled a chart of North Carolina’s new confirmed cases of COVID-19 per day from May 9 through June 8. While it appears that North Carolina’s numbers of contraction are on the rise, it is important to note that anomalies may occur in North Carolina’s data reporting. The state’s average number of new daily cases since May 9 is 727 and its median is 692. Due to the obvious outliers on May 20, May 22 and May 29, which tend to skew the average, the median is a safer tool in describing the overall trend since May 9; however, the past seven-day average and median are significantly higher, at 990 and 907, respectively. This second set of numbers does not include the outliers mentioned earlier. The increasing seven-day aggregates indicate either an upward trend in confirmed cases or more accessibility to testing.
June 9. By Dave Yochum. Hospitalizations and deaths of COVID-19 patients continued to climb according to new data from the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services. The state is reporting a new high Tuesday of 774 people being treated, as well as 23 new deaths for a total of 1,029 since the COVID-19 outbreak became apparent here in March.
There are more deaths in North Carolina than all of The Philippines, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Still, we’re enormously better off than New York, where 30,417 have died, and New Jersey, where 12,214 have died, the Johns Hopkins data says.
But—again, based on Johns Hopkins data—the median number of new COVID-19 cases over the past week in North Carolina was a worrisome 907. During the past 30 days, the median number of new daily cases was 692, suggesting a strong increase in cases.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 outbreak at Autumn Care of Cornelius is officially over. County Health Director Gibbie Harris says the congregate living/nursing home has gone 28 days without any new cases. Since March, 19 residents have died of COVID-19.
Mecklenburg County has 5,744 cases, up from 4,519 one week ago. There have been 111 deaths.
Statewide, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased by 35 patients between Monday and today with trends rising.
The state reported 37,160 cumulative cases as of noon today, up from 367,484 from yesterday and 29,889 exactly one week ago.
Of course, a massive increase in testing contributes to higher numbers: Total tests are at 535,711, up from 434,921 one week ago.
Mecklenburg Schools still plan to open Aug. 17, with new guidelines from Gov. Cooper in mind. It’s apparently a day-by-day situation with online learning part of the equation.
“We very much want school buildings open, but we won’t be reckless with such an important decision. We know this coming school year will be like no other,” said Cooper.
Re-opening plans will be determined by the status of COVID-19.
Schools may reopen according to three scenarios:
—Plan A: Minimal Social Distancing
—Plan B: Moderate Social Distancing
—Plan C: Remote Learning Only.
Cooper said people must continue to take COVID-19 precautions to ensure schools can resume in-person instruction.
“If we are careless now, if we ignore the three Ws, if we violate the mass gathering rules, we don’t just risk our own health. We risk the ability to get our students back in the classroom,” said Cooper.
