Updated Dec. 14, at 12:45 p.m.
Elon University
On Sunday, Dec. 13, Elon University reported zero new coronavirus cases. There are currently an estimated 13 active cases within the Elon community.
Elon University is at Level 2 — Moderate Alert level for cases within the Elon community.
Elon University data from the university's COVID-19 dashboard.
To monitor the coronavirus, Elon University has set-up a COVID-19 alert level system. The four-tiered system monitors both cases on-campus and in Alamance County.
Currently, Elon University is at Level 2 — Moderate Alert level for cases within the Elon community.
Alamance County
Currently, Alamance County has a cumulative 8,632 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 114 deaths. For every 10,000 residents in the county there are over 509 cases, according to data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Outside of Alamance, Mecklenburg County, home to the state’s largest city Charlotte, has seen over 51,000 cases of coronavirus, more than any other county in the state. When factoring in population, Sampson County, located in eastern North Carolina, has seen the most cases, per 10,000 residents in the state.
North Carolina
There have been 441,365 cumulative cases of the coronavirus in North Carolina as of Dec. 14.
Gov. Roy Cooper issued executive order No. 181, a modified stay-at-home order, that began on Dec. 11 and is in effect until Jan. 8. This modified stay-at-home order puts a curfew on certain businesses and urges North Carolinians to remain at home at night.
Certain businesses like entertainment venues, parks must close between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Restaurants and bars must also close for in-person dining between those hours. Additionally, bars and restaurants must stop serving alcohol between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Certain businesses are exempt from this order like grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations.
In a briefing on Dec. 8, Cooper addressed the complicated nature of the curfew, as the state is working towards slowing community spread, but still worry of the economic impact these curfews may have on businesses.
“I think it’s pretty clear that the later in the evening you go, the larger some of these gatherings can be at some of these businesses,” Cooper said. “People become more uninhibited and people get closer together and there can be more opportunities to spread the virus.”
The order also requires people to stay at home or in place between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. with some exceptions like traveling to and from work, travel for food or groceries, medical care and other exceptions.
Gatherings in the town of Elon will remain capped at 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. According to Town Manager Richard Roedner, the emergency order limiting social gatherings was important to keep cases of the coronavirus low at Elon University.
Many previous guidelines are still in effect under the stay-at-home order such as gathering limits.
The North Carolina face mask mandate is still in effect, and mass gatherings will remain capped at 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors.
What happens when someone tests positive for the virus in Alamance County?
When someone in the county becomes infected with the virus, the Alamance County Health Department is tasked with helping contact trace individuals who may have come into contact with an infected individual.
“For every confirmed case, Alamance County Health Department does an extensive interview with the case that includes their current health status, onset of symptoms, and a retracing of their movements while infectious,” ACHD Public Information Officer Arlinda Ellison told Elon News Network.
In the retracing of an infected persons movements, health department staff ask about who they have interacted with to determine close contacts. A close contact is defined as "someone who the case has interacted with for at least 10 minutes or more and within six feet.”
Close contacts are then notified by the health department and in addition to assessing their current condition, the staff informs the individual that they will need to quarantine for 14 days. If no symptoms are presented during that time, then they are released from quarantine.
Below are the latest case numbers from the campus of Elon University, Alamance County and the state of North Carolina.