Wednesday, December 4, 2024

By the Numbers: Covid-19 updates in New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender for week of May 31

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ dashboard, North Carolina has had 1,004,669 cases since Covid-19 hit last March. Of the adult population in North Carolina, 50% is fully vaccinated, with 54% partially vaccinated.

As an incentive to get the vaccine, the governor announced last week the launch of free $25 gift cards given to people who get vaccinated or to the drivers who shuttle them. The cards have been offered in Mecklenburg, Guilford, Rowan and Rockingham counties only and the campaign ends tomorrow, June 8.

Hospitalizations continue decreasing numbers on treatment of Covid patients — last week going form 680 to 613; 13,151 patients have died since Covid began. Newly reported cases have gone down as well over the last week from 738 to 680. The state’s percent positivity also has declined from 3.1% to 2.5%.

Let’s take a look at Covid-19 data, including cases, clusters and outbreaks, and vaccinations, across the tri-county region and at New Hanover Regional Medical Center as well.

If you value Port City Daily’s free Covid-19 coverage, please, consider a monthly subscription for access to all of PCD’s in-depth reporting, and sign up for the free morning newsletter.

New Hanover County

CASES
According to the NHC dashboard, a total of 19,652 cases have existed in New Hanover County since March 2020. The death toll has gone up by six since last week at 173.

“The decreasing number of COVID-19 cases of our residents is extremely encouraging, but I must urge our community to keep our eye on the prize, because over the last week we lost three of our residents to COVID-19,” New Hanover County Health and Human Services agency director Donna Fayko said in a release.

The county reported 68 new cases over the last week.

CDC is reporting New Hanover’s positivity rate is down slightly from last week, landing at 3%.

CLUSTERS AND OUTBREAKS
Updated June 1, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) shows clusters at one school:

  • DC Virgo Academy: 6 total cases, 1 staff and 5 staff

Childcare facilities reporting cases include:

  • The Learning Tree: 19 total, with 10 staff and 9 children

Clusters and outbreaks in congregate-living facilities include:

  • Autumn Care of Myrtle Grove: 4 total, 3 staff and 1 resident
  • Liberty Commons Rehabilitation Center: 3 total staff cases
  • Morningside of Wilmington: 6 total staff cases
  • New Hanover County Detention Center: 98 total cases, 31 staff and 67 inmates

VACCINATIONS
In partnership with local healthcare groups and other outreach efforts, the NCDHHS dashboard shows the county has fully inoculated 106,482 people; 115,501 have been partially vaccinated. That puts New Hanover County at 45% of its population fully vaccinated and 49% partially vaccinated.

Vaccines are currently available through NHC public health June 8, 10 and 12. Folks can choose between Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines at NHC Health and Human Services Building, 1650 Greenfield St, from 8 a.m. to noon, and at Independence Mall, 3500 Oleander Dr., noon to 7 p.m. on June 8 and 10.

On June 12 New Hanover County Public Health will host a Vax and Snax Block Party at the NHC Health and Human Services Building from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. They will have vaccines, music and local food trucks, including Trolly Stop, Soulful Twist, Donut Bus, and Dream Solutions Dream Ice.

The walk-up clinics will provide first and second doses. Anyone needing a second dose, who went to a different vaccine site, will need to show proof of their first dose to get a second.

“You can help prevent more senseless deaths from this virus by getting your COVID-19 vaccine, and if you’re not vaccinated yet you can protect those around you by continuing to wear a face covering and social distancing,” New Hanover County Health and Human Services agency director Donna Fayko said in a release.

Other vaccination partners:

  • NHRMC: Vaccinations can be scheduled at nhrmc.org/coronavirus or by calling (910) 662-2020 when appointments are available. NHRMC now has an email list available for anyone to sign up to receive notifications when COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available. The link to sign up can be found here.
  • Wilmington Health: Vaccinations can be scheduled at WilmingtonHealth.com/COVIDvaccine or by calling (910) 407-5115 when appointments are available.

Brunswick County

CASES
Brunswick County updates numbers weekly on its table chart. Its current case count, updated June 7, is at 9,345. Its death count has stayed the same at 154. The county is reporting less active cases this week at 63 and 9,128 recovered.

CDC is reporting Brunswick’s positivity rate is down from 2.75% to 2.06%.

CLUSTERS AND OUTBREAKS
Updated June 1, NCDHHS is reporting one cluster at schools:

  • Roger Bacon Academy: 10 total cases, 1 staff and 9 students

There are two congregate-living facilities on the list as of June 1:

  • Carolina Dunes Behavioral Health: 30 total cases, with 28 staff and 2 residents
  • Universal Health Care: 10 total cases, with 6 staff and 4 residents

VACCINATIONS
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is reporting Brunswick administered more first doses this week at 72,734. It’s fully vaccinated 68,387 people — or 48% of the population. It has partially vaccinated 51% of the population.

Folks can check in here for Brunswick County Public Health appointment availability; questions can be sent to coronavirus@brunswickcountync.gov.

Folks who don’t have access to the internet can call public health at 910-253-2339, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Pender County

CASES
According to Pender County Health and Human Services, last updated May 17, there have been 5,521 positive tests to date. Of those cases, 99% have recovered, and deaths have remained stable for a few weeks now at 71. Pender also reported one hospitalization.

Pender breaks down its cases by area percentages:

Burgaw: 18% cases
Hampstead: 36% cases
Rocky Point: 18% cases
Watha/Willard: 7% cases
Other: 21% cases

CDC is reporting Pender’s positivity rate is down a little from 6.79% to 6.11%.

CLUSTERS AND OUTBREAKS
Updated June 1, NCDHHS lists the following clusters and outbreaks in Pender County congregate-living facilities:

  • Ashe Gardens: 3 total staff cases
  • The Laurels of Pender: 134 total cases, with 66 staff and 68 residents and 11 resident deaths
  • Pender County Jail: 22 total inmate cases
  • Woodberry Wellness Center: 3 total cases, 2 staff and 1 resident

Below are Congregate Living Setting outbreaks considered over since last week’s report:

  • Ashe Gardens: 3 total staff cases
  • Pender County Jail: 23 cases, 1 staff, 22 inmates
  • Woodberry Wellness Center: 2 total cases, 1 staff, 3 residents

It’s also reporting two clusters in K-12 schools:

  • Rocky Point Elementary: 8 total cases, 1 staff and 7 students
  • Penderlea Christian Academy: 5 total cases, 1 staff and 4 students

VACCINATIONS
According to NCDHHS, vaccinations have gone up in the county from last week with more people fully vaccinated at 21,678. As well, 23,758 have been partially vaccinated — 38% of the population.

Appointments are open through Pender County Public Health.

Folks can call 910-663-4200 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m or make online appointments at pendercountync.gov.

New Hanover Regional Medical Center

New Hanover Regional Medical Center serves a seven-county region so numbers from its Covid-19 dashboard aren’t necessarily reflective of only residents from New Hanover County.

Stats on NHRMC’s dashboard were updated June 4.

NHRMC has 2,104 Covid-19 patients admitted to the hospital for Covid-19. Of the overall patients, 1,776 were discharged and 321 have died (up four from last week).

The daily average of hospitalized Covid-19 patients has gone down from 13 to 9.

NHRMC has increased vaccinations to 95,315 doses administered.


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Shea Carver
Shea Carver
Shea Carver is the editor in chief at Port City Daily. A UNCW alumna, Shea worked in the print media business in Wilmington for 22 years before joining the PCD team in October 2020. She specializes in arts coverage — music, film, literature, theatre — the dining scene, and can often be tapped on where to go, what to do and who to see in Wilmington. When she isn’t hanging with her pup, Shadow Wolf, tending the garden or spinning vinyl, she’s attending concerts and live theater.

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