December is NC’s deadliest month so far in the coronavirus pandemic

A day after North Carolina set a new record for daily COVID-19 cases yet again, the state health department reported a rise of 6,164 cases on Saturday.

COVID-19 hospitalizations have continued an upward climb for the past month, and the department increased its total for Thursday to a record high 2,864 patients while reporting an initial total for Friday of 2,846 patients.

It was the fifth consecutive day of a daily increase of more than 5,000 cases, while the death toll rose by 59 to a total of 6,184, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.

The health department has announced 923 more COVID-19-related deaths in December, making it the deadliest month of the pandemic, according to a News & Observer analysis. The day deaths are reported doesn’t reflect the day they occurred.

COVID-19 death demographics

November was the second deadliest month of the pandemic in North Carolina with 883 deaths.

Of the state’s 6,184 dead due to complications from the virus: 59% were of age 75 and older, 23% were between 65 and 74 years old, 14% were between 50 and 64 years old and 4% were between 25 and 49 years old, according to state data. Eight deaths were of people between 18 and 24 years old and and one death was between 5 and 9 years old.

Males have been 52% of deaths and females have been 28%. Gender data is missing for 20 individuals.

By race and ethnicity, 59% were white, 28% were Black, 1% were American Indian or Alaska Native, 1% were Asian or Pacific Islander and 6% were classified as other. This data is missing for 6% of deaths reported.

Hispanics accounted for 8% of deaths, but ethnicity is missing for 739 of those reported.

Current numbers in NC

Saturday’s new numbers come after the state reached a record-breaking 8,444 new coronavirus cases that were reported on Friday.

The state has completed more than 6.3 million tests, with a positive rate of 11.3% on Thursday, the most recent day of data, that has remained high above the state’s targeted 5% rate for most of the fall surge in cases.

Experts warn that the holidays will bring another spike in cases as people gather for Christmastime and New Year’s Day celebrations.

A new study says reducing indoor maximum capacity in spaces such as gyms, hotels, cafes, religious centers and restaurants by 20% could cut down new infections by about 80%, McClatchy News reported.

According to the state’s county alert system, 82 of the state’s 100 counties are currently red or orange, meaning critical and substantial community spread.

The county alert classifications are based on the number of new cases in 14 days per 100,000 people, the percent of tests that are positive over 14 days and a composite score based on the impact that COVID-19 has had on hospitals, NCDHHS said.

This story was originally published December 19, 2020 at 12:13 PM.