Reported NC coronavirus infections increase week-over-week despite holiday dip

Newly reported coronavirus infections in North Carolina took another holiday weekend dip, with the state adding 1,329 lab-confirmed cases Sunday.

Despite the two-day drop from Friday’s record high of 2,099 new cases, the pace of reported infections is increasing. Over the last seven days, including Sunday, newly reported cases in North Carolina are up 16% over the previous seven days.

State officials reported 17,998 coronavirus tests completed Sunday, lower than the record numbers of tests in recent days. The average percentage of tests that are positive has been staying roughly steady at 9% in recent days, even as the number of tests rises and falls. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen has said she wants that measure at about 5%.

North Carolina has had 72,986 lab-confirmed coronavirus cases since the first reported positive test in March, according to the state DHHS. The official number is likely an undercount. Testing for the virus was restricted in the early days of the pandemic.

State health officials reported at least 949 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized Sunday, two off Friday’s record high of 951. Sunday’s numbers are based on 78% of hospitals reporting. Hospitalizations have topped 900 six days in a row.

While nearly 80% of those who died from COVID-19 are 65 or older, 45% of infections are in people ages 25 to 49. People in that age group work in industries that put them at high risk, Cohen has said. And many may feel invincible, she said.

An infectious disease specialist told The News & Observer that increasing infections among younger people means more community spread.

In advance of the holiday, Cohen and Gov. Roy Cooper urged people to adhere to safety guidelines even as they celebrated.