The number of new COVID-19 cases in Lee County spiked in the week since Sept. 28, with 106 new confirmations – up from 65 the week prior and 42 the week before – bringing the total number of residents who have tested positive to 1,746.

It was the largest number of new cases in a week since Aug. 3, when the county reported 132 new cases.

The number of active cases – which was at 87 on Sept. 21 and 114 on Sept. 28 – increased to 178. There have been 15 laboratory confirmed COVID deaths in Lee County since the first case was reported in March.

The county doesn’t release information about individual cases, although the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services COVID dashboard has some demographic information.

Other metrics also show an increase in the past week. The rolling seven day average for new cases was 12.85, up from 8.43 last week and 5.6 the week before, and the percent positive rate is 4.7, up from four percent last week.

The Lee County Health Department will hold community testing events at 106 Hillcrest Drive every Tuesday through October from 9 to 11 a.m. by appointment only. To make an appointment, call (984) 368-2112 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.