Officially, Ocracoke still has zero confirmed COVID-19 cases

Hyde Health has confirmed that the one COVID-19 case on Ocracoke listed on the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 dashboard website is incorrect.

Melissa Sadler, the nursing supervisor for the department, said today (Aug. 17) that this case was of someone who got tested on Ocracoke but lives elsewhere.

When that happens, Hyde County must get the numbers changed.

“This should come off the DHHS website,” she said.

As of 4 p.m. today, Ocracoke officially still has no positive COVID-19 cases, she said.

“We haven’t gotten results on any islanders that are positive,” Sadler said, but that could change tomorrow.  “It changes from day to day.”

A mass testing event last Wednesday of 58 islanders yielded no positive results, Luana Gibbs, Hyde County Health director, had said Friday. Ocracoke Island has about 1,100 permanent residents.

Be aware that just because there is not an official confirmed case, it doesn’t mean the virus is not present.

Luanna Gibbs, Hyde County Health director, cautioned last week that just because no one tested positive on Ocracoke doesn’t mean we can let our guard down or that it’s not here.

“Don’t become complacent,” she said. “We need to treat this as if everyone is infected” and follow the “Three Ws”: Wear a face covering; Wash your hands frequently; and Wait six feet apart from others.

Coronavirus cases are rising in the county as seen in the graphic below from Hyde Health as of 3 p.m. today.