WADESBORO — Over the last two weeks there have been three COVID-19-related deaths in Anson County, bringing the total to 61 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
The Anson County Health Department reported two deaths over the weekend of Aug. 14-15, and another over this past weekend. From Aug. 9 to Aug. 23 there were 170 new cases for an average of 85 per week. On Aug. 9 there were 96 active cases, and there are 156 as of Aug. 23.
The Health Department urges all eligible residents to get the vaccine, citing that the vaccine prevents severe illness, hospitalization and death as a result of COVID-19, including the Delta variant, and helps reduce the spread of the virus. To get a vaccine, call the Health Department at 704-694-5188.
Like all but one other county in North Carolina, Anson is at a “high” level of community transmission of the virus, according to the Center for Disease Control.
Total, 8,048 Anson residents have at least one dose of the vaccine and 5,584 are fully vaccinated. Of the vaccine-eligible population 12 years old and older, 37.7% have at least one dose and 26.2% are fully vaccinated.
According to the CDC, Anson has seen an 8.82% increase in new cases per day from Aug. 15 to Aug. 22, a 2.68% increase in positive test rate up to 16.47% from Aug. 13 to Aug. 20, a 4.75% percent drop in tests administered per day from Aug. 13 to Aug. 20, a 25% increase in hospitalizations to 5 from Aug. 13 to Aug. 21. Currently, 11.18% of the available hospital beds in Anson County are being used by COVID-19 patients, which is a 2.48% increase from Aug. 13 to Aug. 21.
Judged in 7-day intervals, new cases, new hospital admissions, and percent of beds used all peaked between November 2020 and February 2021. The current percent positivity rate has surpassed the peak during the raging winter months, though this statistic was about twice as high in April 2020.