COVID-19 Deaths Up By 20, Cases Spike In North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, NC — North Carolina reported 1,721 newly confirmed cases of novel coronavirus Wednesday, increasing the state's tally to more than 56,000 cases, according to the latest data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

North Carolina's coronavirus death toll increased to 1,271 Wednesday following 20 new deaths reported in the state overnight. After days of record hospitalizations, North Carolina saw the number of patients admitted with coronavirus-related illnesses drop by nine to 906.

Hospital capacity remains available throughout the state, with four out of every five hospital beds occupied. That's according to a DHHS survey of about 88 percent of the state's hospitals, which showed 81 percent of inpatient hospital beds were occupied Wednesday. Intensive Care Unit beds had slightly better availability, with 23 percent remaining available. Ventilator readiness, by contrast, was greater with only about 28 percent of the state's supply reportedly in use Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, labs had processed more than 791,000 tests, more than 17,000 of which were processed since Tuesday, DHHS said.

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COVID-19 outbreaks in congregate living facilities — such as nursing homes, residential care facilities and correctional facilities — rose to 7,495 confirmed cases Wednesday. The case count represents about 13 percent of the total cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the state.

As of Wednesday, 108 of the state's 409 nursing home facilities had a COVID-19 outbreak. State health officials also reported outbreaks at 62 residential care facilities and 19 correctional facilities.

SEE ALSO: Mask Survey: 3 Out of 4 Say Masks Needed In NC COVID-19 Fight

Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to announce this week the next steps for the state, which is currently under a "Phase 2" reopening order set to expire Friday, June 26. Those next steps could possibly include a mandate requiring residents to wear masks.

An informal survey of Patch 1,160 readers this week found that a majority support the use of face coverings as a collective means to slow the spread of coronavirus in North Carolina, and that mask use — or the lack thereof — is affecting personal decisions about where to spend money and how to socialize.

As of Wednesday, 8 percent of all tests in North Carolina were positive. The World Health Organization recommends that governments have a percent positive rate of 5 percent or lower for at least 14 days before reopening.

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