Coronavirus Hospitalizations In North Carolina Decline By 31

NORTH CAROLINA — North Carolina health officials reported 4,520 positive cases of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, on Sunday, an increase of 208 cases from Saturday. One new death was reported Sunday from the coronavirus, putting the total at 81 deaths, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus dropped from 362 on Saturday to 331 on Sunday, health officials said. The number of hospitalizations reflects patients with COVID-19 who are currently hospitalized in reporting hospitals, the department said.

Mecklenburg County continues to be the hardest hit with 954 cases and 11 deaths. Wake County has seen 470 cases and no deaths.

Other North Carolina counties surpassing 100 cases include Durham County (278 cases, one death), Orange County (150 cases, two deaths), Cabarrus County (117 cases, one death), Forsyth County (114, four deaths), Guilford County, 135 cases, nine deaths), Rowan County (111 cases, two deaths) and Union County (101 cases, one death).

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On Thursday, Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order for stronger social distancing requirements.

The order requires retail stores that are still operating to implement new social distancing policies to make shopping safer for customers and employees and makes earlier coronavirus guidelines mandatory for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

Stores must mark six feet of distance where people might gather, such as in checkout lines or outside stores waiting to ente, and should perform “frequent environmental cleaning and routine disinfecting.”

"North Carolina continues to take strong action to slow the spread of COVID-19, and today's order will help make stores safer, protect those living and working in nursing homes, and get more unemployment benefits out quicker. Our state is resilient, and we will get through this crisis together if we all do our part," Cooper said Thursday.

The most infected age group is people ages 25 to 49. They account for 39 percent of the state’s positive tests. The 50-64 age group, a much smaller group, accounts for 29 percent of positive tests.

In North Carolina, 80 percent of the deaths from the coronavirus are occurring to people 65 years of age or older. Twelve percent of deaths are in the 50-64 age group and 7 percent of deaths are in the 25-49 age group, according state health data.

The state reported 62,139 completed tests as of Sunday.

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