North Carolina COVID-19 cases rise to more than 85,000, more than 1,500 have died
The number of people in North Carolina who have tested positive for COVID-19 continued to rise Sunday while the number of reported hospitalizations dipped, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
DHHS reported 1,908 new COVID-19 cases across the state Sunday, bringing the total to 85,701. The agency reported 1,503 people have died, up four from a day earlier.
Hospitalizations fell by 23 Sunday to 1,070 after reaching a record high of 1,093 Saturday, DHHS reported.
It’s common for hospitalization numbers to fall on Sundays, when fewer hospitals report information.
The number of reporting hospitals fell four percentage points Sunday to 84%.
About 75% of the inpatient hospital beds are in use, along with 79% of intensive care unit beds, according to the state.
The number of completed COVID-19 tests increased by 23,517 Sunday to 1,199,575.
The percentage of positive cases was 10% Saturday, the latest figure available.
Recent coronavirus records
Sunday marks the first decrease in hospitalizations in a week.
Hospitalizations in the state set a new record of 982 Monday and continued to climb each day, including rising above 1,000 on Thursday.
A week earlier, the number of hospitalizations ranged between 843 and 951.
On Saturday, the state reported 2,462 new cases, a new peak for a one-day increase, The News & Observer reported.
“Record-high numbers like today are concerning,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, NCDHHS secretary. “We all have a responsibility to one another to wear a face covering, avoid crowds and wash our hands often to get our trends going back in the right direction.”
State public health officials track coronavirus spread through four main metrics — hospitalizations, the percentage of people who visit emergency rooms with COVID-19-like symptoms, the number of new cases, and the percentage of people who test positive.
The Triangle and Charlotte
The numbers of new cases also continued to climb in the Triangle and in the Charlotte area. As of Sunday afternoon:
▪ Mecklenburg County cases increased by 417 to 15,024. The county has 159 deaths, an increase of one since Saturday.
▪ Wake County cases increased by 243 to 7,447. Seventy-one have died in Wake, up five since Saturday.
▪ Durham County cases increased by 74 to 4,499. Sixty-eight people have died, up one since Saturday.
▪ Orange County’s cases increased by 28 to 961. Forty-three have died in Orange, up one since Saturday.
This story was originally published July 12, 2020 at 12:53 PM.
