10 New Counties Designated 'Red' Under State COVID-19 Alert System

Almost every COVID-19 metric the state monitors is heading in the wrong direction, according to data presented at a press conference Monday by State Health Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen. 

Last week, when the state unveiled a new county-level COVID-19 alert system, 10 counties were red – the worst rating indicating the highest level of viral spread. Now, that number has doubled to 20. Forty-two counties are now orange, the second-highest level. 

The alert system takes into account hospital strain, case rate, and test positivity rate. Dr. Cohen said those numbers are all trending upward statewide.

“Our statewide metrics and county alert map show that we are on very shaky ground," said Cohen. "I do not want to see the bottom fall out. I'm particularly concerned about our record number of people in the hospital.”

Data also show that more people are ending up in ERs with COVID-like symptoms – that's the state's earliest warning of ramped-up viral spread. 

Governor Roy Cooper said the next seven to 14 days will determine whether the state needs to further tighten restrictions to get the virus under control. 
 

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