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In North Carolina, trends for COVID-19 are increasing in new cases, hospitalization and percent of positive tests.

On Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, the state posted 3,415 individuals with new cases of coronavirus.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services dashboard, 5,005 North Carolinian deaths have been attributed to the coronavirus.

North Carolinians in hospitals with COVID-19 number 1,590.

Statewide, ICUs in the hospitals have 1,876 ICUs filled with 510 staffed but empty. Reported as unstaffed or not reported are 1,105 ICU beds.

Once again across the nation, the supply of personal protective equipment has become a topic.

On Thursday, Governor Roy Cooper visited Bright View Technologies in Durham.

The optical film manufacturer started producing personal protective equipment when the pandemic hit.

On his tour, the governor saw face shield construction and assembly.

Since the start of the pandemic, the state has reported distributing over 19 million face coverings, 12 million procedure masks, one million face shields and other PPE supplies.

To date, Bright View has manufactured over 750,000 face shields with the majority going to North Carolina state and local agencies.

On Friday, the state’s COVID-19 dashboard the state reported 173 days of supplies for procedural masks, 346 days for gloves and 605 days for gowns. Two categories of other equipment – such as face shields and N95 respirators – had over a 1,000 day supply.

COVID-19 is considered by health officials to be highly contagious, and more than half of North Carolinians are at high risk for serious illness. Studies are also finding that some people, including those who had mild illness, experience symptoms for weeks or months following infection, reports the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

State health officials and the national Center for Disease Control and Prevention advise people to avoid travel over Thanksgiving and only gather with people in your household.

Dare County – As of Saturday, Nov. 21, Dare County has a total of 962 COVID-19 positive cases, of which 130 are active resident cases. Six individuals are hospitalized and 124 residents are in home isolation. Non-resident cases total 354. Three are in isolation in Dare County and 102 have been transferred to isolation in home counties.

This past week 1,144 COVID-19 diagnostic tests performed in Dare County, bringing the total number of tests performed since early March to 18,259. The percent of positive tests to overall tests in Dare County since early March is 4.9%. The percent of positive tests to total tests for the past week alone increased to 9.4%.

Hyde County – In Hyde County on Nov. 21, the total number of cases was 183 people, one of which is active. The county notes 177 recoveries and deaths remain at five people.

Tyrrell County – Martin-Tyrrell-Washington Health District reports that Tyrrell County’s total, cumulative case number is 140 with 134 recovered. Three active case exists as of Nov. 21 and three deaths have been recorded. The health district is hosting a drive-through COVID-19 testing at Washington Regional Hospital in Plymouth Nov. 24 from 1 to 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Bring proper identification and insurance cards. “Nobody is turned away for inability to pay.”

Camden, Currituck, Pasquotank counties – As of Nov. 21, 2020, Albemarle Regional Health Services published the following case information:

Camden: 167 lab-confirmed cases, up by five cases. Some 13 cases are active, and 150 people have recovered. Another death has been recorded in Camden, bringing the total deaths in Camden to four. The individual was over the age of 65 and succumbed to complications from COVID-19.

Currituck: 301 lab-confirmed cases, an increase of 21 cases. Some 45 cases are active and 251 of the cases are reported to be recovered. Another death has been recorded in Currituck, bringing the total to five. The over-65 individual died of complications from COVID-19.

Pasquotank: 1,013 lab-confirmed cases. Active cases number 72 and recoveries number 906. Deaths remain at 35 people.

“As families begin to make preparations for the Thanksgiving holiday it is important to gauge the risks associated with holiday gatherings,” stated R. Battle Betts Jr., MPA, Albemarle Regional Health Services health director. “The best way to reduce your risk of viral transmission is to limit travel during the holidays and limit physical contact with people who do not live in your household. You should practice the 3W’s; wear a face covering, keep 6 feet of social distancing, and wash your hands well. The 3W’s are even more important if you are getting together with someone at high risk of complications with COVID-19.”

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