By Natalie Anderson
natalie.anderson@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — County health officials on Wednesday reported one additional COVID-19 death from someone not associated with a congregate care facility, raising the total to 41 dead since the pandemic hit the county.

A total of 1,072 people have tested positive for COVID-19 here and the number of people currently positive rose by 21 on Wednesday, amounting to 254 currently positive COVID-19 patients. A total of 777 patients have recovered, and 18 are currently being hospitalized. There have been at least 6,063 tests conducted in the county.

Of the 41 total deaths, all but five have been from local congregate care facilities, with an average age of 83 among the deceased. A total of 221 people have tested positive at congregate care facilities.

As cases continue to rise, Gov. Roy Cooper and state health officials announced on Wednesday that North Carolina will remain in phase two for another three weeks. Additionally he mandated all North Carolinians to wear masks and/or cloth face coverings while in public.

The order also mandates face coverings for employees of businesses, including retailers and restaurants, as well as state employees in the executive branch. Violations will generally be punishable by misdemeanor, but law enforcement can issue citations to businesses or organizations that fail to enforce mask requirements, not individuals.

Rowan County health officials announced on Wednesday that free face coverings will be provided to the public at the West End Plaza, located at 1935 W. Jake Alexander Boulevard, on July 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Statewide, a total of 56,174 people have tested positive for COVID-19 after 791,285 completed tests, which amounts to an increase of 1,721 additional cases in the state from one day earlier — marking the state’s second highest one-day jump in cases. A total of 1,271 people have died, and 906 are currently being hospitalized.

The average age of cases in Rowan County is now at 45. People aged 18-35 comprise the plurality of cases at 320. Cases among children continue to rise and are now at 90. People aged 36-50 comprise 267 cases, while those aged 51-64 make up 170 of the cases. Those aged 65 and older make up 225 of the total cases.

Hispanic residents of the county continue to be disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and comprise 34.42% of all cases, at 369. A total of 651 white residents have tested positive for COVID-19, along with 156 Black residents, four Asian residents, one Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and two American Indians/Alaskan Natives. A total of 134 cases are categorized as “other,” while 124 are unknown.

Men comprise 556 cases, or 51.87%, and women make up 48.13% of cases, at 516.

The Salisbury zip code 28147 has the most cases, with 415, but it’s also the location of the largest nursing home outbreak in the county, the Citadel. Next is 28144, with 253 cases, and 28146, with 123 cases. 

Contact reporter Natalie Anderson at 704-797-4246.