NC Coronavirus: Previous Day Marked 1-Day High For New Cases

NORTH CAROLINA — On Sunday, an additional 497 cases of the coronavirus were reported in North Carolina, a smaller increase from the previous day. The latest cumulative totals are 23,222 cases and 744 deaths. As of Sunday, 336,656 coronavirus tests have been completed, a daily increase of 7,074.

The 497-case increase is lower than Saturday's 1,107-case increase. Saturday marked the highest one-day number of laboratory-confirmed cases, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Epidemiologists are looking at data to determine if there were significant contributing factors.

"This is a notable and concerning increase," said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen in a statement. "As we head into a holiday weekend, please practice the three Ws – wear a face covering, wait six feet apart, and wash your hands frequently."

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.

There are 587 people currently hospitalized to COVID-19 across the state, down two people from Saturday. Looking at overall capacity with 80 percent of hospitals reporting, 77 percent of ventilators are available, 26 percent of inpatient beds are available and 17 percent of intensive care unit beds are available.

Mecklenburg County continues to report the most cases in the state with 3,231, followed by Wake County with 1,448, Durham County with 1,262 and Guilford County with 1,049.

Sunday is the second full day of the state being in the second phase of reopening. Under phase two, the stay-at-home order is lifted, although high-risk individuals are urged to stay home. Restaurants, pools, barber shops, salons and other personal care businesses can operate at 50 percent capacity, but bars remain closed.

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Retail continues to be allowed at 50 percent capacity. Large venues, arena and stadiums can reopen with restrictions on the number of people permitted inside. Gatherings are limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Parks and trails, day camps and overnight camps are open. Theaters, music venues, bowling alleys, schools, gyms and playgrounds remain closed. Face coverings and telework continue to be encouraged.

Globally, more than 5.3 million have been infected by COVID-19, and more than 343,000 people have lost their lives, Johns Hopkins University reported Sunday. In the U.S., over 1.6 million people have been infected and at least 97,211 people have died from COVID-19.

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