New NC COVID-19 cases are down a bit, but percent positive cases up slightly
North Carolina reported 1,290 new COVID-19 cases Sunday and only one new death, according to data from the state’s Department of Health and Human Services.
At least 207,380 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Sunday and 3,441 people have died, DHHS reported. The number of completed tests increased by 30,908 on Sunday, resulting in a total of 2,974,052 people in the state who have been tested for COVID-19.
That means 5.1% of the tests were positive for Sunday, a little above Saturday’s 4.5%, but still right at the state’s goal of 5% or less.
The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 increased by three to 917 on Sunday, with 92% of the hospitals reporting. The number of hospitalizations jumped by 410 to 914 on Saturday, the largest increase in more than two weeks.
Antigen test numbers now included in totals
North Carolina eclipsed the 200,000 case mark this week, with numbers jumping by more than 6,000 cases on Friday, compared to the day before, because DHHS is now including the results of antigen tests that backdate to May 20.
Officials said they began adding the antigen data based on updated guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An antigen test is a rapid test that can be processed at a clinic or other “point of care” location. The molecular, or PCR, test — the standard test DHHS has been reporting since March — is processed in a lab.
Antigen positive cases make up 2% of cases and 0.7% of deaths in North Carolina so far, DHHS said.
The data is new to the state’s dashboard, but DHHS said that local and state health departments have followed up on all cases diagnosed through the antigen testing process.
DHHS advises that the data on the COVID-19 dashboard is preliminary and can be adjusted as more reporting is collected. They advise looking at trends over a period of time.
This week, Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to ease some restrictions in North Carolina, including opening up large outdoor venues to significantly reduced crowds. Cooper said that starting Oct. 2, outdoor venues that can hold 10,000 or more people can reopen at 7% capacity. Cooper suggested at a press briefing Tuesday that other restrictions may be eased, but so far no details have been released.
Death reported in Harnett County prison
The new death reported on Sunday is that of an inmate at Harnett Correctional Institution.
The inmate, a male in his early 60s, had pre-existing medical conditions and tested positive for the virus when he was admitted to a hospital on Sept. 7, according to a news release from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
“His death is saddening, and we continue to work to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons,” Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons, said in the release. “The health and safety of the staff and the offenders in our custody continues to be our top priority.”
Including the latest death in Harnett County, NCDPS has reported 14 inmate deaths due to COVID-19.