Onslow County sees highest COVID-19 numbers since start of pandemic

ONSLOW COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - Onslow County health officials say they are seeing the highest number of COVID-19 cases to date this week.

Health Director Kristen Richmond Hoover said in the past week they have had six deaths and 1,404 new cases.

On Tuesday, the county set a new record of 360 new cases for one day.

Onslow Memorial Hospital said the surge caused by the Delta variant has all COVID-19 patients in ICU on ventilators. Hospital CEO Dr. Penney Burlinghame Deal said they are currently holding six COVID-19 patients in their emergency department.

The county said 90% of the patients with the virus are unvaccinated, while 99% of the deaths have occurred in unvaccinated patients.

Hoover said 46.2% of the population is a least partially vaccinated.

Deal said UNC Health System modeling predicts another virus peak happening in late September.

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