COVID case rate drops in nearly every Mecklenburg neighborhood. Did it in yours?

Devna Bose
·2 min read

Every Mecklenburg County ZIP code except two saw COVID-19 case rate decreases over the past two weeks, following a general downward trend since early September.

The countywide average from Oct. 7 to Oct. 20 was 256.7 new cases per 100,000 residents. That’s significantly lower than the previous 14-day average case rate of 320.5. A month ago, the average was in the low 600s.

Positivity rates and the number of residents hospitalized are down, too. Since about this time last month, daily new COVID infections have dropped by more than half. As of Friday, 61% of Mecklenburg County residents are fully vaccinated.

The countywide ZIP code analysis uses only the most recent, or active, infections detected by coronavirus testing. Mecklenburg County Public Health typically releases ZIP code-level data weekly, and the rate is based on a 14-day average and takes into account population size.

ZIP code 28213, which is south of University City and includes Hidden Valley and neighborhoods along Old Concord Road, unseated uptown Charlotte with the highest case rate in Mecklenburg, according to data since Sept. 30.

Uptown previously had the highest case rate in Charlotte for about two months, largely due to outbreaks at the Mecklenburg County Jail.

Other ZIP codes with high case rates include 28278 (Steele Creek) and 28203 (South End and parts of Dilworth), which, along with 28204 (Cherry and Elizabeth) were the only two ZIP codes with increases in case rates over the past two weeks.

The lowest case rates in Mecklenburg County are in ZIP codes 28207 (neighborhoods in Eastover along Providence and Randolph Roads), 28036 (Davidson) and 28212 (southeast Mecklenburg County, along Independence Boulevard and Idlewild Road).

The biggest decreases over the past two weeks took place in west Charlotte, including Enderly Park and neighborhoods along West Boulevard (28208), uptown (28202) and east of uptown along North Graham Street (28206).

COVID-19 case rates by ZIP code

This data comes from Mecklenburg County Public Health and includes positive COVID-19 test results, based on a person’s home ZIP code, between Oct. 7 and Oct. 20.

Below 200 cases per 100,000 residents:

  • 28207: 62.6

  • 28036: 155.1

  • 28212: 178.6

  • 28211: 195.1

  • 28209: 196.8

  • 28031: 199.1

Case rates between 200-250:

  • 28270: 203.1

  • 28210: 208.5

  • 28134: 217.2

  • 28226: 218.5

  • 28205: 222.4

  • 28105: 229.2

  • 28277: 232.4

  • 28078: 235.6

Between 250-350:

  • 28273: 255.0

  • 28217: 256.1

  • 28215: 274.5

  • 28262: 288.4

  • 28206: 312.4

  • 28269: 315.6

  • 28208: 331.8

  • 28216: 347.6

Above 350:

  • 28202: 355.5

  • 28227: 356.0

  • 28204: 356.9

  • 28214: 360.5

  • 28203: 377.8

  • 28278: 391.7

  • 28213: 418.0

Gavin Off contributed.