NC exceeds 1,000 reported coronavirus cases again. Where do hospitalizations stand?
As the number of COVID-19 deaths reported by the state’s Department of Health and Human Services crept closer to 1,000 in North Carolina, another single-day high in the number of new lab-confirmed cases was reached on Thursday.
The daily update from the state’s DHHS showed 1,189 new cases, the third time in the last seven days the day-over-day increase topped 1,000.
The state has now reported 960 deaths related to the coronavirus, an increase of 21 over Wednesday’s total. The News & Observer, which is keeping its own tally based on data reported from the NC DHHS and county health departments, reported the death total to be 1,006 Thursday afternoon.
The NC DHHS on Thursday reported results from 19,039 news tests, bringing the total number of tests completed to 468,302. Increased testing has led to increased daily case totals. The state’s percentage of positive tests increased to 9% on Thursday. That percentage had been at 8% for the four previous days.
The number of hospitalizations dropped for the second consecutive day. The state reported 659 patients hospitalized due to COVID-19, a decrease of 25. The daily total had reached 716 on Tuesday.
Thursday’s hospitalization numbers were derived with 85% of the state’s hospitals reporting. That’s down from 89% on Tuesday and 88% on Wednesday.
Monitoring NC coronavirus trends
State health officials, along with Gov. Roy Cooper, are monitoring trends in lab-confirmed cases, hospitalizations, percent of positive tests and the number of people presenting at emergency departments with COVID-like symptoms. Stability or decreases in those numbers are needed, Cooper has said, for the state to ease more social restrictions.
The state’s healthcare system continues to have capacity to handle new patients. According to DHHS figures, 74% of ventilators are available, while 15% of intensive care beds and 21% of hospital beds are available.
The News & Observer’s tally of coronavirus cases and deaths is typically greater than what the state reports. The state reports data at around noon daily, while the N&O keeps track of new cases announced by counties throughout the day. As of Thursday afternoon, that total was 32,074 cases and 1,006 deaths.
Coronavirus testing advice
DHHS launched a site Thursday that helps residents decide whether they should be tested for the novel coronavirus.
The state is ramping up testing and contact tracing in its efforts to control the spread of the virus.
The “check my symptoms” link leads to a short questionnaire about place of work, health conditions, possible contact with people infected with the virus, age, race, and ethnicity. Users will get an email or text saying whether they should consider getting a test. DHHS has a website that allows users to search for testing locations.
“These tools are one way we can help break down barriers to access, particularly for our historically marginalized populations, who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,” Cardra Burns, senior deputy director for the Public Health Division, said in a news release. “They are part of a larger effort to make sure that testing is available in trusted and accessible places for communities of color.”
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 12:47 PM.