COVID-19 Hospitalizations Reach Record High In North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, NC— Coronavirus hospitalizations in North Carolina reached 708 patients Thursday, marking the second day in a row for record high numbers in the state. The increase in coronavirus-related illness has left 18 percent of the state's intensive care unit beds available, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported Thursday.

The number of hospitalizations represents an increase of six patients since Tuesday.

The coronavirus death toll in North Carolina rose by 33 deaths Thursday for a total of 827 lives lost in the state from coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. At least 15 of the new deaths reported Thursday were in nursing homes, according to data. Since Wednesday, 784 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in North Carolina, bringing the total to 25,412.

SEE ALSO: Be Like NASCAR, Submit Coronavirus Plan, NC Governor Tells RNC

According to the state agency, a survey of about 90 percent of the state's hospitals shows that 24 percent of North Carolina's ventilators were in use Thursday. By contrast, however, about 82 percent of the state's intensive care beds and 76 percent of inpatient hospital beds were also listed as in use.

The state collected results from 11,036 tests Thursday, which increased the total number of tests processed in the state to more than 375,000. The state's goal is to test between 5,000 and 7,000 people per day and state public health officials say increases in the number of confirmed cases are expected as testing ramps up throughout North Carolina.

As of May 25, an estimated 14,954 residents who were confirmed to have the coronavirus are considered likely recovered, NC DHHS said.

COVID-19 outbreaks in congregate living facilities, such as nursing homes, residential care facilities and correctional facilities included 5,113 confirmed cases Thursday, reflected about 20 percent of the total cases confirmed in the state, according to NC DHHS data.

About one out of every five nursing homes in the state reported a COVID-19 outbreak, with 86 of the state's 409 nursing home facilities reporting an illness either among staff and/or residents. State health officials also reported outbreaks at 37 residential care facilities and 17 correctional facilities.

At least 436 deaths of nursing home residents were reported Thursday, 15 more than reported Wednesday. As of May 28, 61 residential care facility residents and 16 inmates in North Carolina have also died from coronavirus-related illness.

Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates from health and government officials in North Carolina. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily.

Mecklenburg County, the hardest hit county in the state, reported 127 new cases Thursday, for a total of 3,605 confirmed cases. The county has also reported five new COVID-19 deaths, for a total of 85.

Globally, more than 5.7 million have been infected by COVID-19, and more than 356,000 people have lost their lives, Johns Hopkins University reported Thursday. In the U.S., more than 1.7 million people have been infected and at least 100,576 people have died from COVID-19.

RELATED:

• Taiwan Sends 100K N95 Masks to North Carolina
• COVID-19 Illness Reduces ICU Bed Availability In North Carolina
• North Carolina Unemployment Spikes To 12.2%, New Statistics Show