Gov. Roy Cooper introduced a new system on Tuesday (November 17) to keep track of coronavirus cases throughout North Carolina. In a press conference, Gov. Cooper addressed the rising number of cases and debuted a new map system that details the severity in each county.
"North Carolina's COVID-19 numbers remain too high," he said. In fact, the state recorded another day with more than 3,000 additional cases.
The system will use a color-coded map to determine the current level of COVID-19 cases in each of the state's 100 counties. Yellow means caution, orange means concerned, and red means serious concern. To determine the severity, the system will use metrics like the number of cases and hospitalizations as well as testing. The map will then be updated every few weeks.
"By pinpointing counties with high virus transmission and asking people in those counties to work with us and do more right now to slow viral spread, we can succeed," said Cooper. "It can help bring down case rates, keep their communities safer, save lives and keep their hospital systems working."
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, counties around the Triangle are in the yellow, which shows "significant spread." Counties further out are showing orange, "substantial spread," while counties like Sampson, Hoke, Columbus, Wilson, Gaston, Alexander, and Avery are in the red, "critical spread."
Health officials continue to encourage people to wear masks, keep distance between others outside your household, and increase hand washing in order to help slow the spread of the virus. Gov. Cooper also announced restrictions last week that limits indoor gatherings to 10 people.
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