Orange County reached another benchmark on Tuesday, as the county’s total amount of COVID-19 cases surpassed 2,000.

Updated data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services shows 2,025 county residents have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began. The county passed the 1,000 case total on July 14, taking 43 days to double that amount.

Orange County experienced an increased rate of positive cases in the days leading up to the 2,000-case mark. On Thursday and Friday, the county reported more than 80 cases each day, setting new records for single-day totals. The increases ended a week where more than 400 Orange County residents tested positive for COVID-19.

Since reaching the 1,000-case mark, the age demographics for county residents who caught the coronavirus have skewed younger. On July 14, 18 to 24-year-olds made up 20 percent of the county’s cases while 24 to 49-year-olds made up 38 percent. As of Tuesday, 43 percent of the county’s cases are attributed to 18 through 24-year-olds and 28 percent is attributed to 24 through 49-year-old residents.

County officials have said while UNC is reporting more than 600 cases within its community since the university brought students to campus for the fall semester, all of those cases are not added to Orange County totals. Cases reported by the state Department of Health and Human Services are attributed to counties based on where North Carolinians list their permanent addresses.

Orange County’s death toll has risen slightly as well. NCDHHS and the county health department both report 50 county residents have died due to COVID-19 or complications from the virus, with the latest death added to the count this past weekend. The first Orange County resident death caused by the coronavirus was reported on April 9.

20 of North Carolina’s 99 other counties have also surpassed 2,000 cases among their residents. Mecklenburg County continues to report the most, with more than 24,000 total positive COVID-19 cases and 274 resident deaths.

To follow daily updates from the Department of Health and Human Services, visit Chapelboro’s Coronavirus Tracker web page.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
Orange County Ends COVID-19 Testing Services After Nearly 3 Years
After nearly three years of offering PCR tests for COVID-19, the Orange County Health Department has officially halted its testing services.
Orange County's Indoor Mask Mandate Extended To Mid-January
With COVID-19 cases back on the rise, Orange County officials are extending the county's indoor mask mandate into early 2022.
Orange County Government Reinstates Mask Mandate in Facilities; Employees to Share Vaccination Status
With new COVID-19 infections on the rise locally and statewide, the Orange County government announced a shift back to requiring masks in its facilities. Effective Thursday, all visitors and employees in county government buildings must wear face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19, regardless of one’s vaccination status. Additionally, the Orange County government is […]
One Year Into the Pandemic, Orange County Reaches 100 COVID Deaths
More than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, Orange County reached a sobering benchmark. With one death reported from county residents in the last week, Orange County registered its 100th death from COVID-19, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The first death from COVID-19 in Orange County occurred on April […]
Orange County Courthouse Closes Due to COVID-19 Exposure
The Orange County Courthouse will temporarily close to the public following “an exposure” to COVID-19. Court officials for the Hillsborough facility announced the closure on Tuesday, citing a recent threat to the public and court employees’ safety from the coronavirus. According to a release from the North Carolina Judicial Branch, those working at the courthouse […]
Orange County to Continue With Limited Gatherings, Staying Stricter Than State Guidelines
Orange County will not be expanding its gathering size limits to match new North Carolina guidelines amid the transition to Phase 2.5 of reopening. As the county is experiencing more than ten percent of positive test results across recent weeks, elected officials will opt to not match the sizes of 25 people indoors and 50 […]
Orange County Extends State of Emergency Through October
Orange County’s state of emergency order caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been extended. County officials made the announcement Wednesday, saying the order is now slated to run until November 1. It had previously been set to expire August 31. Maintaining a state of emergency allows the county and the town governments within to […]
Mental Health, Infant Mortality and Environmental Racism: Takeaways From Orange County's Health Assessment Data
Every four years, the Orange County Health Department embarks on an intensive effort to gather wide-ranging, local health information in its Community Health Assessment, which happened in 2023. One month ago, the health department shared those results and data with residents. The health department published its public copies of the 2023 assessment after surveys, focus […]
WHO Downgrades COVID Pandemic, Says It’s No Longer Emergency
Written by MARIA CHENG and JAMEY KEATEN The World Health Organization said Friday that COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a global emergency, marking a symbolic end to the devastating coronavirus pandemic that triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies worldwide and killed at least 7 million people worldwide. WHO first declared COVID-19 to be an emergency more […]
Bus Delays Expected for CHCCS Community After 25 Staffers Call Out Sick
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools students and families who rely on school buses will likely experience an influx of delays after more than two dozen staff members are out due to COVID-19 protocols. The district shared an alert on Friday afternoon, telling families that several of its bus drivers recently tested positive for the virus, felt […]
›