FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Iredell County Health Department reported eight more deaths attributed to COVID-19 on Friday afternoon.

A total of 124 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Iredell since the pandemic began in March have now passed away. Health officials do not release personal information about individuals who test positive, including those who die.

With the 181 new cases reported by health officials on Friday, there have now been 10,592 laboratory confirmed cases in the county.

As health officials warned before the Christmas holiday, the number of deaths and confirmed cases have spiked dramatically in the past ten days. There have been more than 2,500 new cases reported since December 29.

Seventy-five people who have tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalized in Iredell County.

The trends in Iredell County mirror the rest of the state and the nation:

♦ In North Carolina, there have been a total of 602,774 confirmed cases and 7,328 deaths attributed to COVID-19. More than 10,000 new cases were reported on Friday, and 3,960 people who have tested positive are now hospitalized.

♦ Across the United States, there have been 21.7 million cases and more than 365,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19.