North Carolina counties with highest rate of new cases reporting 7% fewer residents vaccinated

DURHAM, North Carolina (WTVD) – As COVID-19 cases increase in North Carolina, the I-Team has found a strong correlation between the rate of new cases and counties vaccination rates.

The rate of new cases reported in North Carolina counties over the past week has ranged from 210 to 9 cases per 100,000 population.

Many counties in the southeast, such as Cumberland, Robeson, Scotland and Richmond County have reported the highest rate of new COVID-19 cases. These same regions also reported lower vaccination rates than counties with fewer cases.

An I-Team analysis found that counties reporting the fewest new cases fully vaccinated 7% more of their population than counties reporting the most new cases.

The correlation is not surprising, but it reinforces the message that health officials have been insisting for months: vaccines make a difference.

“In my humble opinion, the counties that haven’t gone over the 30% vaccination rate for the entire county, they really see a lot of issues with the Delta variant right now,” said Rodney Jenkins, director of County Durham Health. “For ourselves, Orange County and Wake County, and pretty much the Triangle itself, we’ve been working really hard to get the vaccine out, we’re so much better at it.”

Orange and County Durham rank in the top 10 counties for vaccination rates, and each reported less than 50 cases per 100,000 people on average last week.

Wake County reported a rate of about 79 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population last week; ranking it in the middle of the state.

Meanwhile, Hoke County has reported some of the largest increases in the state with 161 cases per 100,000 population reported this week. State data shows that only about 22% of county residents are fully vaccinated, the lowest in North Carolina. County numbers, like those for Cumberland County, may be underestimated due to Fort’s vaccines. Bragg and the VA are not included in the state count.

Hoke County Health Director Helene Edwards said the county has stepped up contact tracing efforts to align with pre-vaccine protocols to combat the increase in cases.

Jenkins credits Durham’s partnerships, resources, residents and workforce to the position he holds today.

Despite the smaller increase, even the Triangle is seeing a slight increase in cases as the Delta variant spreads across the country. Jenkins said he expects Durham’s cases to continue to rise.

“We’re no different from anywhere else, cases are increasing a bit, but far from where we were,” Jenkins said. “And I expect it won’t be a repeat of what it was like last summer and last winter. But we certainly want to make sure that our residents, especially our kids, we want to make sure. that children are protected to go back to school. “

RELATED: Data Shows About 1 in 4 Durham COVID-19 Cases are in Children Under 17

Jenkins said the spread of the Delta variant is leading to increased vaccination rates, as well as parents finding time to bring their children for an injection.

Jenkins said the county’s main challenge remains convincing those who are hesitant that the vaccine is working.

“We tried to canvass the neighborhoods, we tried to do prospecting and talk to people and just say, ‘Hey, you know, if you don’t want a vaccine, tell us why and let us know. inform. “And so far, these tactics have been successful,” Jenkins said.

RELATED: Side Effects, Distrust, Top Reasons North Carolina Residents Are Reluctant About COVID-19 Vaccine

Jenkins said the county will continue to remain vigilant in its efforts.

North Carolina has recorded an average of 500 additional cases per day this week. Earlier this week, the number of returning positive COVID-19 tests surpassed the level reported last July.

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