COVID-19 still on the rise in Durham – 266 new cases last week

Then COVID-19 virus is not going away in Durham as most underlying numbers continue to rise across the region.

Hospital numbers are up and new cases are rising as the number of positive cases since the pandemic was declared nearly three years ago passes the 71,600 mark.

There were 266 new cases of the virus last week vs 238 the previous reporting period, and hospital numbers continue to rise with 44 COVID patients in Durham hospitals today (with one in ICU) vs 37 the previous week.

The weekly incidence rate (per 100,000 population) is also climbing (36.3 from 32.4) and the per cent positivity rate continues rose to 11.8 per cent for the Christmas Day to New Year’s Eve period, from 10.8 per cent the previous week.

Outbreaks in institutions, such as retirement homes, hospitals and long term care facilities, did go down though – from 17 to 14, with two in hospitals. The other positive sign was the number of deaths from the virus last week, which was zero. There was one death the last reporting period, bringing the total of fatalities since the spring of 2020 to 530.