Using Johns Hopkins University data, Cornelius Today compiled North Carolina’s new confirmed cases of COVID-19 per day from May 18 through June 17. While it appears that NC numbers of coronavirus contraction are on the rise, it is important to note that anomalies may occur in any kind of data reporting and testing. The state’s average number of new daily cases since May 18 is 912 and its median is 892. The past 7-day average and median are significantly higher, at 1,209 and 1,246, respectively. The increasing 7-day aggregates indicate both an upward trend in confirmed cases and more accessibility to testing.
June 18. By Dave Yochum. North Carolina had 1,333 new cases of COVID-19, up from 1,002 new cases reported yesterday. The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services says there have been a total of 48,188 cases of the coronavirus countywide since mid-March, with 7,804 in Mecklenburg County, up 241 overnight.
Testing is rising fast, too: A total of 693,678 as of noon today, up from 667,422 yesterday.
Looking at medians over the past seven days vs. the past month, North Carolina recorded a median number of 892 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 31 days. During the past seven days, based on data from Johns Hopkins University—which may vary slightly from NCDHHS data—the median number of new cases was 1,246.
It shows a considerable difference—39.68 percent higher during the past week. On June 1, we reported Johns Hopkins statewide data showed the median number of new cases during the previous seven days was 884, up 62 percent from the preceding 31 day median of 543.
Mayoral concerns
Mayor Woody Washam said the increase in the COVID-19 numbers is “highly concerning.”
Having to return to a Phase 1 environment—and not transitioning to Phase 3—would be “tragic” for businesses and individuals, he said.
WASHAM
“From my view, many have gotten complacent, are not social distancing as needed and are not wearing masks. All of these basics are critical right now to reverse these trends,” Washam said. “In addition, please stay at home if at all possible.”
There have been 128 cases of the coronavirus among Cornelius residents, accounting for a total of 16 deaths. (Some deaths at the Autumn Care nursing home are recorded in their home counties. Cornelius Today reports only data from NCDHHS and Johns Hopkins.)
North Carolina and several other states, including Florida, South Carolina and Texas, made national news for daily spikes in excess of 1,000 last week. On Friday there were 1,768 new cases statewide and on Sunday there were 1,443 new cases, so while today’s increase is down from some last week, it’s nothing to cheer about. The increase Tuesday was 1,002; on Tuesday it was 751
Johns Hopkins at 2 pm today was reporting 450,137 global deaths due to COVID-19, and 117,972 in the US.
North Carolina reported 1,175 dead, up seven from yesterday. Exactly one week ago, the total death count statewide was 1,064.
Mecklenburg County’s death toll from COVID-19 was 130, the same as yesterday, but up from 116 one week ago.
Hospitalizations are also high, well above 800 for the past three days. The NCDHHS reports 857 people hospitalized because of the coronavirus, up from 846 yesterday and 829 on Tuesday. Interestingly, COVID-19 hospitalizations rose from the 600s to the 700s between May and June, peaking at 812 on June 11. The numbers fell over the past week then climbed quickly from 797 on Monday to today’s 857.
Phase 3 may not happen on schedule
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said he will announce early next week whether businesses still shuttered because of COVID-19 will be allowed to reopen. 
Under Cooper’s current order, restaurants can offer dine-in seating, and barber shops and hair and nail salons are open – but all at reduced capacity. Bars, movie theaters, bowling alleys and gyms remain closed.
Cooper has to decide whether to extend the order, which expires June 26, or modify it in some way.
He and Secretary of Health Dr. Mandy Cohen are considering whether face masks may be required. It doesn’t look like a face mask mandate will happen on a county-wide level, as each town within the county must agree.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, NC Secretary of Health, said face coverings are “incredibly important” to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Mecklenburg County: 7 day median vs 1 month median
For a more regional context, Mecklenburg has had a 7-day running average accounting for approximately 19.9 percent of the state-wide cases per day. It is unlikely Mecklenburg has had days with zero new cases in the past week and month, as the chart suggests, but anomalies in testing and reporting. This is especially apparent as Cornelius Today notices significant dips in North Carolina’s daily new cases which coincide with the same days Mecklenburg reported zero cases
