COVID-19 related deaths continue to rise. In Bladen County, the daily updates on associated COVID-19 deaths are reported in one lump sum.
Bladen County Health and Human Services reported 91 COVID-19 related deaths on today’s update. See the full update below.
The molecular (PCR) and antigen tests are the two different diagnostic test types the State uses for COVID-19 diagnoses. A difference in the two test types is that one is considered “confirmed,” and the other is “probable.”
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ website, a “COVID-19 case” is a person who received a positive COVID-19 test result. COVID-19 deaths include people who have had a positive molecular (PCR) or antigen test for COVID-19, died without fully recovering from COVID-19, and had no alternative cause of death identified.
Starting September 25, 2020, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) began reporting on two new measures on the NC COVID-19 Dashboard. Health officials use both molecular (PCR) and antigen tests which are both diagnostic.
A molecular (PCR) positive case of COVID-19 is a person who received a positive COVID-19 result from a molecular (PCR) test. An antigen-positive case of COVID-19 is someone who received a positive COVID-19 result from an antigen test and does not have a positive result from a molecular (PCR) test.
Molecular (PCR) positive cases are classified as “confirmed” cases, and antigen-positive cases are classified as “probable” cases of COVID-19, in accordance with CDC case classification guidelines(link is external). Despite the names, regardless of the test used, a person who tests positive is considered to have COVID-19. The terms “confirmed” and “probable” are used nationally to standardize case classifications for public health surveillance but should not be used to interpret the utility or validity of any laboratory test type.
For more information about different types of COVID-19 tests, visit the Food and Drug Administration’s overview of coronavirus testing basics(link is external).
Deaths are reported by hospitals and clinicians directly to the local and State health departments. Once reported, NCDHHS or LHD staff manually enter the death by date of death, into NC COVID.
Deaths are typically reported within hours or days. As new deaths are reported, they are included in the date the person died, and so previous dates can change. Deaths include those among molecular (PCR) and antigen-positive cases.
Bladen County Health and Human Services recommend receiving the COVID-19 vaccine to help fight the virus and protect yourself and those around you. For more information, call (910) 872-6291.
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