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State And Local Leaders Respond To Forsyth County's Rising COVID-19 Cases

Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services, speaks during a briefing on the coronavirus pandemic at the Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 28, 2020. Photo courtesy: NC Dept of Public Safety, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

There were 97 cases of COVID-19 in Forsyth County on Thursday — the largest single-day increase since the pandemic began.

That brings the county's overall total to 1,160. Of those, 568 residents have recovered.

Early case numbers in Forsyth County were relatively low. But over the past several weeks, they've risen steadily. And now Forsyth's rate of cases per 100,000 is higher than the state's.

Forsyth is one area that North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen says state leaders are watching closely.

“We are doing a lot more testing in the Triad in particular," she says. "We knew that was an area of lower testing rate earlier on in the pandemic. But it also says we have to be modest and slow in the kinds of activities that we are taking because we are seeing more viral spread.”

Forsyth County Public Health Director Joshua Swift says the drastic increase in COVID-19 numbers is concerning. Swift says his department has intensified outreach to the Hispanic community, which accounts for 57 percent of the cases.   

For the most up-to-date information on coronavirus in North Carolina, visit our Live Updates blog here. WFDD wants to hear your stories — connect with us and let us know what you're experiencing.

Bethany joined the staff of WFDD in the fall of 2012. She received her B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Wake Forest University and focused on Anglo-Irish writing. Between undergraduate studies and graduate school, Bethany served as the intern to Talk of the Nation at NPR in D.C., participating in live NPR Election Night Coverage, Presidential debate broadcasts, regular Talk of the Nation shows, and helping to plan the inaugural broadcast of ‘Talk of the World.' She enjoys engaging with her interests in books, politics, and art in the interdisciplinary world of public radio. Before becoming Assistant News Director, Bethany was a reporter and Associate Producer for WFDD's Triad Arts and Triad Arts Weekend. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Bethany enjoys calling the Piedmont home.

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