Reported coronavirus deaths increase by 42 in NC; case count goes up by nearly 2,000
North Carolina added nearly 2,000 new coronavirus cases to its total Thursday and the state reported another 42 deaths, nearing its single-day high since the pandemic began.
The state Department of Health and Human Services reported 131,267 confirmed cases of COVID-19, up 1,979 from Wednesday’s total. The tally of new cases hit its peak on July 18 with 2,481.
While health officials reported the 42 new deaths Thursday, they likely did not occur on the same day. The daily count represents fatality reports, and its highest level in the pandemic so far is 45 deaths reported on July 29.
The number of patients reported hospitalized with COVID-19 dropped statewide. DHHS reported 1,147 people in North Carolina hospitals, down 20 since Wednesday. Space remains in hospitals across the state with 552 empty intensive-care beds, higher than on Wednesday, and 5,451 inpatient beds, slightly lower. There have been 399 suspected COVID-19 patients admitted in the last 24 hours, NC DHHS reported Thursday.
These figures all serve as benchmarks for state health officials judging whether the state is safe to reopen during the pandemic. On Wednesday, Gov. Roy Cooper announced the state will remain in Stage Two for another five weeks, keeping bars and gyms closed.
Testing continued to ramp up across the state as North Carolina conducted another 31,082 tests, bringing its total past 1.9 million. The rate of positive results was at 9 percent Thursday, higher than the 5 percent state health officials have set as a goal.