Iredell COVID-19 Hospitalizations Double In One Day

MOORESVILLE, NC — Iredell County's number of known coronavirus cases rose to 6,224 confirmed cases Friday, an increase of 82 cases in 24 hours, according to health department data.

The new cases mean Iredell County has confirmed at least 440 new cases of COVID-19 since Monday.

At least 50 county residents were hospitalized for COVID-19 illness as of Friday afternoon, twice the number reported Thursday.

As of Friday, Iredell County's coronavirus death toll was 72, reflecting an increase of six lives lost to the virus in the span of five days.

As of Dec. 4, the spread of coronavirus in the state increased by 5,303, increasing the statewide tally to at least 382,534 confirmed cases. At least 5,467 deaths from coronavirus have been reported in North Carolina since March, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported. As of Friday, the percentage of positive tests in North Carolina was 11.2 percent.

Iredell County health officials group cases into three regions of the county: North, Central and South. Here's a breakdown of how many cases were confirmed in each region as of 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4:

North Region (zip codes 27020, 27028, 27055, 28625, 28634, 28636, 28660, 28689 and 28678)

• 1,234 cases (up from 1,171 cases reported Dec. 1)

Central Region (zip codes 27013, 28166, 28677)

• 2,498 cases (up from 2,361 cases reported Dec. 1)

South Region (zip codes 28036, 28115, 28117, 28125)

• 2,492 cases (up from 2,380 cases reported Dec. 1)

SEE ALSO: Coronavirus Spread In Iredell County: See Your Risk Of Exposure

While cases continue to mount, there is optimistic news on the horizon, according to Gov. Roy Cooper, who outlined North Carolina's COVID-19 vaccination plan earlier this week. As soon as a vaccine is federal approved, the state is on track to receive 84,800 doses, which will be initially prioritized for frontline healthcare workers and those living and working in long term care facilities.

SEE ALSO: NC Health Officials Preparing For COVID-19 Vaccine Roll Out

Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna have applied for authorization by the Food and Drug Administration to begin using their COVID-19 vaccines. The FDA is set to review Pfizer's application Dec. 10 and Moderna's application on Dec. 17, CNN said. Both companies have reported data showing they are at least 94 percent or more effective in preventing COVID-19.

Should the FDA authorize the Pfizer vaccine next Thursday, it won't be long before frontline healthcare workers in North Carolina will begin receiving it, Cooper said. Once vaccines are federally cleared for use, they could begin arriving in North Carolina by mid December.

Vaccinations will be free for all state residents, regardless of insurance coverage, he added.

Globally, more than 65.6 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and more than 1.5 million people have died, Johns Hopkins University reported Friday afternoon. In the United States, about 14.3 million people have been infected and more than 278,000 people have died from COVID-19.