By Natalie Anderson
natalie.anderson@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Both the number of currently positive COVID-19 cases and the total case count in the county grew by double digits Wednesday.

A total of 302 individuals are currently positive, which is an increase of 14 since Tuesday. The overall case count has reached 801. The overall case count is an increase of 17 since Tuesday after 33 new tests, which amounts to a total 4,307 tests in the county. The increases Wednesday are the latest in a steady trend of since testing options have become more widespread here. However, the total number of individuals being hospitalized also grew by one Wednesday and is now at 18.

The number of cases at congregate care facilities remained at 216.

Of the 801 cases, 39 individuals have died, with 21 being from the Citadel, 15 from the N.C. State Veterans Home and three not associated with a congregate care facility. The average age among the deaths is 84.

Statewide, a total of 38,171 cases have been confirmed after 553,650 tests. A total of 1,053 individuals have died, and 780 are currently being hospitalized across the state.

The average age of positive individuals in Rowan County continues to drop and is now at 48.1. Individuals aged 18-35 comprise the plurality of cases at 222, and the next highest age group is those above 65, at 200 cases. Individuals aged 36-50 comprise 197 cases, the 51-64 age group comprises 139 cases and children make up 43 of the total cases.

A total of 479 white individuals have tested positive, along with 137 black individuals, three Asian individuals, 236 Hispanic individuals, one Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander individual, 107 unknown and 73 classified as other.

A total of 397 females and 404 males have tested positive for COVID-19.

Zip code 28147 remains the area with the most cases, now at 345. It’s also where the Citadel, the largest local outbreak at a congregate living facility, is located. Zip code 28144 has 202 cases, and zip code 28146 has 81 cases.

County officials also encourage locals to get tested at one of the county’s multiple sites, particularly as state officials have described community transmission of COVID-19 has increased in many areas across the state, especially among LatinX communities. Rowan County testing dates and times can be found on the county’s COVID-19 Information site.

Contact reporter Natalie Anderson at 704-797-4246.