NC’s coronavirus cases increase as state looks ahead to potential Phase 2.5 changes
North Carolina reported 1,688 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, well above the seven-day average of 1,230, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
The seven-day average of new cases has steadily increased from 1,147 on Sept. 11 to its current number.
There are 198,189 cases reported, but that likely is an undercount, as testing was not widespread in the beginning of the pandemic in March.
Health officials advise monitoring two weeks worth of data trends instead of day to day increases and decreases. The COVID-19 dashboard is frequently updated.
But the trend in cases is one to watch as North Carolina’s Phase 2.5 executive order is set to expire Oct. 2. N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper said Tuesday he expects to make an announcement early next week on the status of the state’s coronavirus restrictions.
On Tuesday, Cooper announced that large outdoor stadiums will be allowed to reopen, if trends continue to be stable, at 7% capacity for venues with seating at 10,000 or more.
As of Tuesday, 4.8% of COVID-19 tests administered returned positive. The seven-day average for percent positive has hovered around 5% over the last two weeks. State leaders have said they would like the percentage to be 5% or lower.
As of Thursday’s N.C. DHHS report, there are 902 hospitalizations statewide with 97% of hospitals reporting.
Forty more deaths associated with COVID-19 were reported, bringing the total to 3,356. Since Monday, the state has reported 109 deaths.
Just over 500 intensive care unit beds are available statewide.
New DHHS app downloaded
More than 50,000 people have downloaded the new SlowCOVIDNC app since N.C. DHHS launched it Tuesday. The app can help with contact tracing efforts by alerting users to COVID-19 exposure.
The app, available for free on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, shares random, anonymous IDs with other phones nearby to notify the user if they’ve been exposed to the virus.
DHHS said the IDs are a string of random letters and numbers and change every 10 to 20 minutes.
The app relies on users to input their positive COVID-19 test results in order for other users to be notified that they’ve been exposed to the virus.
“Downloading SlowCOVIDNC is a practical step each of us can take to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our state,” DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said in a news release Tuesday.