The number of positive COVID-19 tests in Dare County as of Friday afternoon is 584, of which there are 21 active cases among residents of Dare County. Of the 584 cases, 318 are residents and 266 are non-residents. One resident remains hospitalized from complications associated with COVID-19.
Since the last Dare County DHHS Update issued, Tuesday, October 6, 2020, there have been 16 new positive cases. Of these 16 cases, 9 are residents and 7 are non-residents. The Dare County website has already been updated to reflect all of these cases.
Of the 9 new resident cases since Tuesday, October 6th:
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3 of the cases are family members. All are symptomatic. One family member acquired the virus and spread it to the other 2 family members. It is unclear how the first family member acquired the virus.
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1 individual is symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test result was reported on 10/3.
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1 individual is symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual who tested positive outside of Dare County.
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1 individual is asymptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with a family member who tested positive outside of Dare County.
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2 cases are not connected. Both are symptomatic. It is unclear how these individuals acquired the virus.
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1 case was reported to us on 10/7 from the state reporting system. This was a late report from when the individual tested positive outside Dare County. The individual has since fully recovered.
Of the 7 new non-resident cases since Tuesday, October 6th:
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2 of the cases are family members. Both are symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual who tested positive outside of Dare County.
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2 of the cases are not connected. Both are symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual who tested positive outside of Dare County.
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2 of the cases are not connected. Both are symptomatic. It is unclear how these individuals acquired the virus.
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1 individual is asymptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual who tested positive for the virus outside of Dare County.
Contract tracing has been completed on 15l of the new cases and direct contacts provided by these individuals have been identified, notified, and directed to quarantine for 14 days from the last date of exposure with the positive case. We are working with the 1 individual to identify and notify their direct contacts.
Controlling the Spread
It remains very important for everyone to do their part and use the proven tools available to help reduce the spread of COVID 19. Please be responsible by following the 3Ws:
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Wear a cloth face covering if you will be with other people.
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Wait 6 feet apart. Avoid close contact.
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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer
Testing
Two testing clinic opportunities will be available for Dare County Residents. One will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at Cape Hatteras Elementary School located at 47500 Middle Ridge Rd in Buxton. Another testing clinic will be held at Soundside Event Site located at 6800 S. Croatan Hwy in Nags Head during the first week of November. Details about the testing event in Nags Head will be released by October 21st. These testing events will be offering drive through diagnostic testing for ages 5 and older. These clinics are not offering antibody testing at this time. The diagnostic test indicates whether an individual has a current COVID-19 infection.
To schedule an appointment for the October 20th testing event, please call 252.475.5008. The call center is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Participants registering for the community testing events are required to send a photocopy of their government-issued identification card and insurance card prior to the event.
Staying Well
Practicing general wellness during these difficult times can help improve an individual’s likelihood of preventing or recovering from illness due to COVID-19. There are many ways the coronavirus pandemic may affect your mental health. A common issue right now is individuals who are physically distancing from others feel socially isolated. Being socially connected is considered a fundamental human need and contributes greatly to our overall mental health.
Some tips to increase social connectivity include:
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Using technology to see friends and family members. Try to use Facebook video chat, skype, Google Meet. Try hosting normal events like Sunday night supper using technology.
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Seek out opportunities to join an online social group or book club. It is a great way to connect with others who have similar interests or needs.
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Exercise with a friend/family member at a safe distance.
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Look for opportunities to participate in group activities that align with state guidelines and are held at a distance.
These are stressful times, don’t be afraid to reach out if you feel you may need help. There are a variety of resources for all kinds of support available at www.darenc.com/covidresources. Mental health resources available in our community vary from counseling to economic assistance to telemedicine. It can be hard to reach out for help, but we are fortunate to have a variety of resources available in our community.
A great place to start would be contacting our COVID-19 Emotional Support line. This service is free, confidential and available Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 252.473.8216. The counselor can also help connect you to other services that you may benefit from. Please don’t delay in seeking help if you are struggling.
Communications and Information Sharing
Dare County DHHS has an established schedule of communication to share information regarding COVID-19. On Tuesdays, we release a written update and a video update which includes an overview of the previous week’s COVID-19 key metrics is issued. On Fridays a written update is issued. All released videos and written updates can be found on our website, DHHS facebook page, Dare County Twitter page, and Dare Emergency Management Twitter page. If you would like to receive these updates directly to your email, please sign up to receive our enotifications.
New positive cases are updated on the dashboard on our website and shared on the DHHS facebook page when we receive them. To find the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 cases in Dare County visit www.darenc.com/covid19. State COVID-19 data is available at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard.
Contact Us
We encourage you to stay informed by visiting www.darenc.com/covid19 or by visiting the CDC or NC DHHS websites. If you have specific needs or questions you may also call the Dare County COVID-19 call center open Monday-Friday from 8:30 to 5:00 at 252-475-5008.
This story originally appeared on OBXToday.com. Read More local stories here.