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About the Data

Just like the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Wake County is monitoring four sets of criteria in 14-day periods.

They are the trajectory of:

  • Cases with COVID-like symptoms;
  • Positive COVID-19 cases confirmed each day by a lab;
  • The percentage of tests that were positive out of all tests administered; and
  • The hospitalizations of COVID-19-positive patients.

This way, we can detect any upward trends in our community, which would inform any corrective actions we may want to consider. We use data to guide our decision-making process, so we can do what’s best for the health and safety of our 1.1-million residents.

For information about the percentage of positive COVID-19 cases in Wake County currently, please visit the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services website. Scroll down to the “Percent Positive by County” section and move your mouse over Wake County on the image of the state. A box will appear with the latest percent positive data in it. The remaining three criteria will be shown in the graphs below.

PLEASE NOTE: The first of the following charts is updated weekly. The additional three charts are updated weekdays at 2 p.m. with a lag of up to two business days.

The first chart shows the trajectory of cases in Wake County with COVID-like symptoms.

The second graph shows the trajectory of positive COVID-19 cases each day in Wake County that are confirmed by a lab.

NOTE: Data has a lag of up to two business days.

Out of all the tests given for the virus, we’re looking at the percentage that were positive, which is illustrated in the third graph.

The final graph looks at the number of hospitalizations of COVID-19-positive patients in Wake County.

*Currently hospitalized COVID-19 patients from the
CapRAC (Capital Region Healthcare Preparedness Coalition)

We use all these indicators to give us a more complete picture of the COVID-19 situation in our community. As we monitor them, we can adjust the restrictions in place, if we see shifts in the wrong direction, to control the spread of the virus and keep our community safe.

Appendix: ILI Reporting

ILI stands for Influenza-Like Illness and monitors the number of individuals experiencing a fever and cough or sore throat. We track this measure with CLI (COVID-Like Illness) for surveillance of illness within the community.