48 new COVID cases over past week; 76th death reported Monday

Lee County Government confirmed 48 new COVID cases over the past week, bringing the total number of residents who have tested positive to 5,776. Meanwhile, a 76th death related to the disease was reported Monday.

“Please join us in offering our condolences to the family and friends of this individual and keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” said Lee County Health Director Heath Cain. “While the trajectory of new COVID-19 cases in Lee County continues to decline, we are reminded that this virus is capable of creating serious illness and health complications in those infected and we must do what we can to slow the spread of COVID-19. If you have not done so already, please consider getting your COVID-19 vaccine.”

Details about the new cases and the death – other than that the deceased patient had been hospitalized at Central Carolina Hospital – were not released in accordance with federal health privacy laws.

Central Carolina Hospital also reported Monday that it had no patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Additionally, the 48 new cases mark a significant decline from the previous two weeks, when new cases numbered in the 60s and 70s.

The Health Department is now accepting registrations for the COVID-19 vaccine from Groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the NCDHHS vaccine rollout plan at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines. This means any individual age 18 or older (16 and up for Pfizer) is eligible to register for the vaccine. Once registered, individuals will be scheduled for the next drive-thru vaccination clinic with availability.

To register for the COVID-19 vaccine, individuals may call (919) 842-5744 or to register in Spanish (919) 718-4640 option 8. Calls will be accepted Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. There is also an online pre-registration form available at leecountync.gov/covid19. Once a form is submitted, staff will follow-up to complete the registration process. Upon registering, individuals will be scheduled for the next county COVID-19 drive-thru clinic with availability.