Ocracoke COVID Update

Monday, August 31, 2020 - 05:46

On August 30, the ZIP code tracker showed Ocracoke with 3 cases of COVID.

This is an increase from last week when we had only two cases.

One Ocracoke resident is hospitalized for COVID; we don't know yet who the other two cases are. The general assumption is that one of them is an Ocracoke resident who is currently at college off the island. The 3rd and newest case is a complete mystery. Even our sources who work in restaurants (the hotbeds of gossip) don't have a clue.

If the Ocracoke Current does find out it will be because Ocracoke is a small town. The health department confirmed the hospitalization of one patient, but didn't provide details about the 2nd case and is carefully trying to protect the identity of COVID cases. The 3rd case appeared on the state health department's ZIP code tracker over the weekend and the county hasn't put out an update.

We also learned from local sources that Hyde County has had its first death from COVID; the deceased was a resident at Cross Creek nursing home in Swan Quarter (on the mainland.) Our condolences go out to the family.

Hyde County Health Department announced that they would no longer post COVID updates on the weekend. Friday's update showed 35 active cases in the county (2 of those on Ocracoke.) Director Luana Gibbs says she will issue a press release on Tuesday or Wednesday each week with a breakdown of case statistics.

Mask up! Wash your hands! Stay 6 feet apart!

Read previous, in-depth Ocracoke Current COVID-19 reporting here and here.

Get your information on COVID prevention from reliable sources, such as:

CDC, www.cdc.gov/Coronavirus
NC Division of Health and Human Services, www.ncdhhs.gov, 1-866-462-3821 (NC Coronavirus Hotline)
Hyde County Health Department, www.hydehealth.com, 252-926-4399

Practice the 3 Ws - Wear, Wait, Wash!!!