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As COVID-19 cases continue to surge within Stanly as a result of the omicron variant, there is optimism that the county may soon hit its peak, during which time cases should start to diminish.

“We expect over the next few weeks, to start to see that decline,” said Stanly County Health Director David Jenkins, who was part of a phone call earlier in the week with State Epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore. “It’s going to take some time…but cases should start falling off.”

The Stanly County Health Department reported more than 1,500 new cases this week, up from around 1,200 last week and bringing the running total to roughly 16,500 since the pandemic began in March 2020.

The county’s percent positive rate has spiked to about 38 percent, up from 26 percent last week and 12 percent at the beginning of of the month. The state’s positivity rate is slightly lower, at 34 percent.

Thirty people have been hospitalized as of Friday, a slight uptick from the 25 people who were in the hospital at the same time last week.

Only two people have died this week due to Covid as of Thursday, down from the 10 who died last week. Sixteen people have died so far this year, bringing the cumulative total to 238.

The state reported 35,395 new cases on Friday, much higher than the 17,300 on Wednesday, but still down from the all-time high of almost 45,000 last Thursday. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 hit a record-breaking high Thursday with 4,867 people needing medical assistance.