North Carolina reports more than 1,400 new COVID-19 cases as hospitalizations fall
The state health department reported an additional 1,454 COVID-19 cases and 24 new related deaths in North Carolina on Saturday.
At least 183,740 people in North Carolina have now tested positive for the coronavirus and 3,047 people have died from related issues, the Department of Heath and Human Services reported.
The number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 in the state fell by 68 Saturday to 870, according to DHHS. That number is based on 95% of hospitals reporting, up slightly from the previous day’s 93%.
The number of completed COVID-19 tests increased by 22,478 Saturday to 2,581,132.
Just over 5% percent of tests were positive Thursday, close to the 5% or less that officials want to see.
COVID-19 trends this month
State officials track coronavirus spread through four main metrics, including hospitalizations, new cases and the percentage of people testing positive.
Hospitalizations mostly remained above 1,000 in early August, then fell to 968 on Aug. 31, according DHHS.
In September, hospitalizations have ranged between 901 and 969.
Daily lab-confirmed cases in September had been trending down since hitting 2,045 on Sept. 4. They fell to 716 on Tuesday but climbed above 1,200 on Thursday.
DHHS advises COVID-19 dashboard data is preliminary and can change with more reporting. It advises looking at trends over time.
On Friday the number of COVID-19 related deaths in North Carolina passed 3,000 after the first two deaths were reported March 26, The News & Observer reported.
In comparison, the state health department reported 186 flu deaths in the 2019-20 season.
NC ‘simmering,’ health secretary says
DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said Thursday the spread of the coronavirus was still too high to move toward opening more businesses.
“We are simmering,” she said.
Phase 2.5 of Gov. Roy Cooper’s opening plan, which let playgrounds open, along with gyms and museums with restrictions, started Sept. 4.
On Friday a judge released an order essentially denying a request to assign someone to help North Carolina reduce its prison population, The N&O reported.
Plaintiffs including the N.C. NAACP, Disability Rights North Carolina, and ACLU of North Carolina asked Wake County Judge Vince Rozier to appoint a special master to assist the state in reducing the prison population, along with other steps. Rozier initially said he was considering appointing a special liaison, but ultimately in his Friday order denied the organization’s motion that wanted the state to do more to keep prisons safe.
