Another Dare County resident has died as a result of COVID-19, according to the Dare County Dept. of Health and Human Services’ case dashboard today.
The death brings the number of Dare locals who have died of COVID-19 since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic began last year to 17.
This is the second COVID-19-related death reported in Dare County during the past week. (See The Beacon, 8/25/21.)
The DCDHHS provided no details about the person who died, not even his or her age.
Seven Dare County residents are currently hospitalized with the disease, according to the dashboard. Last week there were eight.
The DCDHHS updates the number of new COVID-19 cases in the county on a daily basis, from Monday through Friday, with Monday’s total including positive tests reported on the weekend.
In the past two daily reports, the health department has reported how many of the new positive COVID-19 tests were in vaccinated people, making them “breakthrough cases.”
A person who tests positive for COVID-19 two weeks after receiving a final vaccine dose is considered a breakthrough case.
Today, of the 103 new cases reported, 20 or 19 percent were of vaccinated people. On Friday, 12 of the 49 new cases—nearly 25 percent—were breakthrough cases.
The DCDHHS will publish its weekly update about COVID-19 cases in Dare tomorrow.
Last Tuesday, the DCDHHS reported that since the week of April 12, 2021, when the first breakthrough case was identified locally, 250 of the 1,346 positive cases of COVID-19 in Dare County—or about 19 percent—have been breakthrough cases. Of those 250 cases:
- 136 reported mild symptoms, and 10 reported moderate symptoms
- One was hospitalized
- 57 had the J&J vaccine
- 95 had the Moderna vaccine
- 96 had the Pfizer vaccine
- Two had the Astrazeneca vaccine
Of the total number of COVID-19 vaccines administered by the DCDHHS, it said, 5 percent were J&J; 24 percent were Pfizer; and 71 percent were Moderna.
The DCDHHS is now accepting online registration requests for booster vaccine doses from moderately to severely immuno-compromised people, who were vaccinated with either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. You may register at http://www.darenc.com/Register4Vaccine. (See The Beacon, 8/25/21.)
The health department anticipates that all other people who were vaccinated with either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least eight months before they receive a booster dose will be able to get one by the third week in September.
U.S. public health officials are reportedly considering recommending boosters for vaccinated people just six months after they receive their final vaccine dose.
Ann G. Sjoerdsma, 8/30/21
The Southern Shores Beacon 