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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT
Gathered at the bottom of this page is WHQR's ongoing reporting and coverage on COVID-19. In addition, below is a list of other resources pertaining to the virus.For questions/concerns about COVID-19, call the NC Coronavirus Helpline at 1-866-462-3821. To find out about the availability of community resources, call 211 or visit nc211.orgFor Brunswick County, the COVID-19 Helpline is 910-253-2339. The email is coronavirus@brunswickcountync.gov. New Hanover County's Helpline is 910-798-6800. National Resources Basic Protective Measures from the Coronavirus Coronavirus Myth Busters Coronavirus FAQs and Answers National Coronavirus Case Tracker Protecting Yourself and Your Family Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities International Travel Advisories Local ResourcesTesting in North Carolina State Case Count New Hanover County Updates and Info Brunswick County Updates and Info Pender County Updates and Info New Hanover Regional Medical Center Updates New Hanover Disaster Coalition Novant HealthDosher Memorial HospitalWAVE TransitWilmington HealthUNCWWHQR's Community Resources

Covid-19 Continues Its Steady Rise In NC

RLH
Wearing a face covering is one of the most effective strategies for slowing the spread of Covid-19, say NC officials.

  Covid-19 continues to simmer in North Carolina, but has not yet boiled over.  Still, the numbers are not going down.

There are four metrics that state officials use to measure the spread of coronavirus. 

Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, says one of those data points is the number of people who show up in the Emergency Room complaining of Covid-like symptoms. It’s the state’s earliest detection mechanism, it continues to go up, and that’s concerning, says Cohen. 

So is another key metric:

"The number of new lab-confirmed tests of Covid-19 is still increasing.  Today, we have another high number of new cases at 2,160.  We want to see this curve flatten and then keep it flat and trending downward, but we aren’t there yet."

The percentage of positive cases is stable but too high, says Cohen.  It’s hung steady between 8 and 10%, and she’d like to see the rate of positive tests drop to half that. 

 

The number of people in the hospital for Covid-19 is another metric steadily on the rise.  This is a lagging indicator – since those in the hospital were likely infected days or weeks ago.

Cohen says the best way to lower these numbers is for all North Carolinians to follow the three ws:  wear a mask, wait six feet apart, and wash hands frequently.  

 

Rachel hosts and produces CoastLine, an award-winning hourlong conversation featuring artists, humanitarians, scholars, and innovators in North Carolina. The show airs Wednesdays at noon and Sundays at 4 pm on 91.3 FM WHQR Public Media. It's also available as a podcast; just search CoastLine WHQR. You can reach her at rachellh@whqr.org.