Using Johns Hopkins data, we compiled a chart of North Carolina’s new confirmed COVID-19 cases from July 26 through Aug. 25. The median number of cases statewide since July 26 is 1,473. The median over the past 7 days is also 1,473.
Aug. 26. By Dave Yochum. The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services today reported 1,244 new cases of the coronavirus statewide, down from 1,345 new cases Tuesday.
Based on data from Johns Hopkins University, the state’s median number of daily cases from July 26 through yesterday is 1,473, the same as the median over the past seven days. Mathematically, it means new cases, a leading indicator of COVID-19, are at best leveling off.
The differential, which can indicate trends, was around 27 percent a week ago. To get the Johns Hopkins worldwide look at the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.
Hospitalizations
NCDHHS also reported hospitalizations edged up slightly from 1,000 yesterday to 1,004 today. One month ago there were 1,139 people hospitalized due to COVID-19. Today’s increase is also down from the increase in hospitalizations on Monday and Tuesday, which were 50 and 52, respectively.
Deaths
New COVID deaths, which are a lagging indicator, rose from 35 yesterday to 36 today. The cumulative statewide death toll now stands a 2,606, according to the NDHHS. US deaths will likely exceed 180,000 today or tomorrow, based on Johns Hopkins data. An average of 945 people a day have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. since the first case was recorded in the country in mid-January.
NC testing
Positive tests are coming back at the rate of 7.8 percent in today’s NCDHHS report, up from 7.4 percent yesterday. NC Secretary of Health Dr. Mandy Cohen said a positive test rate trending downward from 5 percent is the goal from a statewide perspective. NC tests were coming back positive 6 percent of the time around Aug. 8-9.
North Carolina Health News yesterday reported that from Aug. 18 to Aug. 23, UNC-CH tested 1,568 students and 32.2 percent came back positive. At N.C. State University, 333 COVID-19 tests were performed during that same week and 62 people, or 18.6 percent, were positive. East Carolina University reported that 267, or 26 percent, of the 1,012 tests conducted from Aug. 16 to Aug. 22 were positive.
Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg accounts for 10.0 percent of the state’s new confirmed cases per day, according to Johns Hoppkins data. The proportion is down from 16 percent one month ago, and in line with Mecklenburg’s share of the state population.
The median number of cases since July 26 is 177 compared to a median of 151 new cases per day over the past week. The same data set from Aug. 20 showed a difference in medians of 36 percent. (See chart below.)
NCDHHS today reported 137 new cases in Mecklenburg—down from 148 new cases yesterday—for a total of 24,545 since the outbreak began. Positive tests are returning at the rate of 6 percent in Mecklenburg.
North Meck
Cornelius: 5 new cases, total 412 (327 on July 26). 16 deaths total, none new in more than a month
Davidson: 3 new cases, total 233 (161 on July 26). 5 deaths total, none new this month
Huntersville: 9 new cases, 764 total (511 on July 26). 10 deaths total, none new since Aug. 11
