New DHHS data shows COVID-19 hospital admissions and ICU use across North Carolina

The state Department of Health and Human Services is releasing more detailed information on COVID-19 hospital admissions and ICU use by region.

The new information also includes daily reports of how many patients with COVID-19 were admitted to hospitals over the past 24 hours, how many suspected of having COVID-19 were admitted and how many adults with COVID-19 are in ICUs.

On Saturday, 111 patients with COVID-19 were admitted to North Carolina hospitals over 24 hours, 377 people suspected of having COVID-19 were admitted and 317 COVID-19 patients were in ICUs.

With COVID-19 hospitalizations having surpassed 1,000 and routinely setting daily records, Dr. Mandy Cohen, head of the state department of Health and Human Services, has said that it is important to look at hospitalizations by region. A statewide view shows hospitals are not near capacity, but state officials are closely monitoring hospital space in the Charlotte region, she has said.

Mecklenburg leads the state

At 17,379, Mecklenburg County leads the state in reported coronavirus cases recorded since March. Mecklenburg is part of a 13-county group called the Metrolina Healthcare Preparedness Region, which since June 21 has had more people hospitalized with COVID-19 than any other region, according to DHHS.

On Saturday, 314 patients in the Metrolina region were hospitalized with COVID-19. Thirty-two had been admitted within the past 24 hours, and 105 suspected of having COVID-19 had been admitted in that time, with 88% of hospitals reporting. Hospitals in the region had 78 adult patients in ICUs.

The Mountain Area Health Preparedness Coalition, counties in the state’s western tip bounded by Avery, McDowell and Rutherford, have the fewest COVID-19 hospitalizations, with 41 people reported hospitalized Saturday, and 69% of hospitals reporting.

Hospitalizations in Triangle counties

Wake, Durham, Orange and Johnston are in regions that fall in the middle.

Wake and Johnston counties are in the Capital Regional Healthcare Preparedness Coalition with Franklin, Harnett and Lee. On Saturday, 111 people with COVID-19 from this region were in the hospital, with all hospitals reporting. Thirteen COVID-19 patients had been admitted over 24 hours, 23 people suspected of having COVID-19 had been admitted and 33 adults with COVID-19 were in ICUs.

Durham is in the Duke Healthcare Preparedeness Coalition with four counties along the Virginia border. This region had 124 people with COVID-19 in hospitals, with 75% of hospitals reporting Saturday. Eleven people with COVID-19 had been admitted to hospitals in the region over 24 hours, along with eight people suspected of having COVID-19. ICUs in the region had 37 patients.

Orange County is in the Mid Carolina Regional Healthcare Coalition with eight other counties. Hospitals in the region admitted 11 people with COVID-19 over 24 hours, and 116 people suspected of having COVID-19. Forty-five adults with COVID-19 were in the region’s ICUs, with 91% of its hospitals reporting.

Coronavirus infections in North Carolina confirmed since March are nearing 100,000, The News & Observer reported.