Alarming new data shows demographics of recent COVID-19 deaths

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – After more than 30 deaths from COVID-19 in a week in New Hanover County, county leaders want people to realize this virus does not recognize race or age .

New data shows the demographic distribution of these recent deaths from COVID-19.

New Hanover County Commissioner Jonathan Barfield calls the new data alarming.

“When you look at the age range – some of these people were in my age range, I’m in my 50s. Acknowledging COVID has no respect for anyone. Whatever your age, your race, your location, your postal code; the point is, if it can get inside your body, it will somehow make you fall. And it’s amazing, there is no rhyme or reason, some people get COVID and do well, but others end up on a ventilator and die, ”Barfield said.

When you look at the breakdown of the 45 recent victims of the virus, 37 were white, 5 were black and 3 were Hispanic.

While the Delta variant affects the younger population across the country, the average age of these new deaths was 65, with the youngest only 30 and the oldest 93.

“This only reinforces the fact that, yes, COVID is real and, yes, COVID is serious,” said Carla Turner, assistant director of health for New Hanover County. “This is why it is so important to protect yourself with the vaccination and with the mask.”

Health officials hope these tragic deaths send a sobering message.

“I think the message is COVID is serious. The measures we have in place, like our mask rule, are in place to protect us so those numbers don’t continue to climb, ”Turner said.

“You still have quite a few people who don’t want to wear masks and don’t wear masks, and then you have the population who also don’t believe in the effectiveness of getting vaccinated,” Barfield said, acknowledging that the mask is mandatory and vaccines are only effective if people understand their importance.

Health officials are working hard to protect everyone: “We’re just going to keep doing whatever we need to do to educate the public. We are making the vaccine very accessible to people, ”Turner said.

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