NC adds another 2,000-plus cases of coronavirus as hospitalized patients decrease
North Carolina added more than 2,000 coronavirus cases and 30 deaths Wednesday, though the number of hospitalized patients took a large drop.
The state Department of Health and Human Services reported 105,001 confirmed cases of COVID-19, up 2,140 from Tuesday’s total. While not a record, the jump in total cases is among the largest statewide since the pandemic began.
The death toll from COVID-19 rose to 1,698 in North Carolina, up 30 from Tuesday’s count.
Hospitalized patients fell to 1,137, down 42 patients from Tuesday. With 90 percent of the state’s hospitals reporting, space remains available in both inpatient and intensive-care beds.
The largest age group confirmed with the virus remained those 25 to 49, who make up nearly half of the cases statewide. Deaths from COVID-19, though, have mostly come to the state’s older residents. More than half are older than 75.
Testing continues to surge statewide. DHHS reported 1,491,820 COVID-19 tests have been conducted so far, up by more than 32,000 from Wednesday. The percentage of positive results remained at 8 percent, higher than the 5 percent state health officials are aiming for.
The updated figures from DHHS come as Wake County has announced that the state’s largest school district will start the year next month with all students in virtual learning.
Gov. Roy Cooper said last week that he would start the state’s schools on a mixed in-person/virtual schedule but give each district the option to go all-virtual.
This story was originally published July 22, 2020 at 12:41 PM.