First COVID-19 Pediatric Death Reported In Mecklenburg County
CHARLOTTE, NC — The spread of coronavirus in Mecklenburg County increased to at least 78,778 known COVID-19 cases and 690 deaths, state public health officials said Wednesday. The news comes as Mecklenburg County health officials report the first pediatric death in the county.
"Mecklenburg County experienced the second pediatric death related to COVID in the state of North Carolina since the beginning of the pandemic," Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris said Tuesday. "We are saddened by this situation and extend our deepest sympathy to the family."
According to county public health officials, this week an average of 12.4 percent of those tested in the county were positive for coronavirus, down from 13.8 percent reported last week.
The tally of those infected with the virus is conservative, county health officials said.
"These results only reflect laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 among county residents," MCPH said in a statement. "Many individuals infected by COVID-19 have not been tested because they are asymptomatic. As such, these results are very fluid and only represent a fraction of the true burden of COVID-19 in our community."
As of Jan. 19, at least 26,633 first doses of vaccine had been administered in Mecklenburg County, and 5,989 individuals had completed their vaccination series, according to North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
On Tuesday, Mecklenburg County Public Health announced it was opening additional appointments for vaccinations during the first three weeks of February for Groups 1 and 2, which include healthcare workers at risk for COVID-19 exposure, long-term care facility staff and residents, and anyone 65 years old or older. The new batch of appointments will be available for scheduling as of Thursday, Feb. 21 at 8:30 a.m.
SEE ALSO: Updated Vaccine Plan In NC Means Those 65 And Over Now Eligible
Hospitalizations continue to increase in Mecklenburg County, averaging about 540 a day during the past week, MCPH said.
The surge in cases is having a direct impact on hospital capacity in the Charlotte metro region.
As of Jan. 20, there were 66 staffed intensive care unit beds representing about 15 percent of supply and 1,097 staffed inpatient hospital beds representing about 22 percent of supply remaining vacant in the 13 counties that comprise the Charlotte metro region, according to DHHS data.
The rise in cases throughout the county prompted Harris to issue a directive that urges county residents only leave their homes for essential activities and recommended that schools and jobs should utilize all virtual options available for a three-week period ending Feb. 2.
The move has prompted complaints about the impact on sports, Harris said Tuesday.
"The intent of this was to limit people's exposure of any kind throughout the three weeks and hopefully help bring our numbers down so we can get to the place that everything that needs to be open and wants to be open will have a better opportunity to do that," Harris said. "Sports is no different from any other activity that we're talking about at this time. Our schools are closed, many of our businesses have slowed down or closed. And so, as we understand the concern about sports, I'd love for the sports to be up and running but I'd also really love for our schools to be up and running."
SEE ALSO: Clinics Set To Distribute Second-Doses Of Vaccine In Mecklenburg
This article originally appeared on the Charlotte Patch
