For the eighth-straight day, Rowan County on Sunday reported a double-digit increase in total COVID-19 cases.

The increase of 24 raised Rowan County’s COVID-19 case total to 1,163. There are 306 active cases. At least 6,405 tests have been conducted in Rowan County, as not all negative tests have been required to be reported.

Recovery numbers tend not to change over the weekend, and that was the case again Saturday and Sunday when the number stayed at 815. There was also no change in deaths and the number of Rowan residents hospitalized on Sunday — 42 and 15, respectively.

Positive tests results are continuing to come more frequently for Rowan County’s youngest age brackets than older ones. The average age, which was 45.6 one week ago, stood at 44.5 on Sunday.

The 18-35 age group contains the plurality of cases in Rowan County, at 349. Next is 36 to 50, at 289. Other age groups are as follows

• Under 18: 103 cases
• 51- 64: 191 cases
• Above 65: 231 cases

For much of the COVID-19 outbreak, the city of Salisbury has contained a plurality or majority of cases. And while the largest portion of cases have occurred in Salisbury, with 492 cases within its borders, there are an increasing number of people testing positive who live outside of a city or town. Those who live in Rowan County and not within a city’s or town’s boundaries number 482.

In another change, statistics maintained by Cabarrus County and the Cabarrus Health Alliance now show more active cases than the Rowan County Health Department’s — 366 compared to 306. It’s not clear, however, whether there are more active cases in Cabarrus County because the statistics include all of Kannapolis, a portion of which extends into Rowan.

Cabarrus County has 1,108 total cases.

Other Rowan County statistics are as follows:

• 670 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 are white, 162 are Black, 4 are Asian, 2 are American Indian or Alaskan Native and one is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. There are 180 labeled unknown and 144 who are “other.” Hispanic Rowan Countians continue to be disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and represent 377 cases.
• 603 cases are males and 560 are females.
• Unchanged since Friday, there are six active COVID-19 outbreaks at congregate living facilities: the Citadel, the N.C. State Veterans Home, Liberty Commons, RHA-Laura Springs, Elmcroft and the Salisbury VA Community Living Center.

Statewide numbers continued rising on Sunday, with 62,142 total COVID-19 cases, 890 people hospitalized, 1,322 deaths and 871,905 tests.

To help people comply with the statewide face mask or face covering mandate, Rowan County government will hold a drive-thru providing free face coverings on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The following are local COVID-19 testing locations this week:

West End Plaza
1935 Jake Alexander Blvd., Salisbury
Monday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Testing is free and open to the public

Rowan Helping Ministries
226 N Long St., Salisbury
Monday from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Testing is free and open to the public

Northern Rowan Family Medicine
313 N. Salisbury Ave., Spencer
Tuesday from 8:30–11:30 a.m.

Rowan County Health Department
1811 East Innes St., Salisbury
Wednesday from 9 a.m. – noon
Testing is free and open to the public

Salisbury Housing Authority Maintenance Compound
200 S Martin Luther King Jr Ave., Salisbury
Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Testing is free and offered to residents of Salisbury Housing Authority

Novant Health Rowan
1904 Jake Alexander Blvd., Salisbury
Testing every day from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Testing criteria may apply

Novant Health Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine
530 Corporate Circle, Suite 200, Salisbury
Monday – Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Testing criteria may apply. Appointment is required.