NC COVID-19 cases decline over the weekend, but hospitalizations stay at record high
North Carolina saw its daily COVID-19 caseload start to drop over the weekend, though the number of patients hospitalized with the virus remains at an all-time high.
The state Department of Health and Human Services reported 77,427 confirmed cases since midday Friday, though the bulk of those came in Saturday with 34,803.
Cases dropped by more than 10,000 by Sunday, falling again to 18,452 Monday — a drop of nearly 50% from the weekend’s beginning. DHHS warns that laboratory results can be delayed as they are processed at such high volumes.
When omicron expected to peak
The omicron variant is expected to hit its peak by the end of January in most states, according to the COVID-19 scenario modeling hub, partially maintained by UNC-Chapel Hill professors.
Some public health officials across the state have noted numbers starting to plateau.
But though DHHS reports fewer people contracting the virus, the level of hospitalization remains sky-high.
For the fifth-straight day, DHHS reported a record number of COVID-19 patients, reaching 4,896 Monday.
Positive tests also continued their steep rise, climbing to 37.8% Monday — more than seven times North Carolina’s goal.
Meanwhile, only 63% of eligible people in North Carolina have received both vaccination shots or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, while 47% have gotten boosters.
This story was originally published January 24, 2022 at 1:19 PM.