Hospitalizations for coronavirus at a new high in NC
North Carolina has 23,964 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the state reported Monday, representing a day-over-day increase of 742.
The number of patients reported hospitalized with COVID-19 reached a new high since the state Department of Health and Human Services started releasing that data, with 627 people receiving in-patient care, and 81% of hospitals reporting.
The state also reported on Monday that North Carolina has now had 754 deaths from COVID-19, up 10 from Sunday.
Seven-day rolling averages in reported positive tests have been increasing in the weeks since testing has expanded and since restrictions on consumer and leisure activities have begun to loosen. Newly reported cases in the state had shown a dip Sunday after a record-breaking number of new cases were reported Saturday.
State health officials reported Monday completing 8,034 more coronavirus tests, bringing the total of completed tests to 344,690.
About 7% of all tests are positive. DHHS said the most recent day of testing saw 8% of tests come back positive.
The News & Observer is keeping track of coronavirus cases and deaths, with numbers that exceed state reports. The state reports data at about 11 a.m., while the N&O keeps track of new cases announced by counties throughout the day. As of early Monday afternoon, The N&O has counted 24,056 cases and 790 deaths.
ReopenNC, the group opposing executive orders aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, planned Memorial Day protests in Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte, Asheville and Wilmington.
Last Friday, eased restrictions allowed restaurant dining rooms to open at 50% capacity, and allowed personal care businesses such as barbershops, salons, and tattoo parlors to see customers again. After a push from the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild, breweries, taprooms, wineries, and distilleries and brewpubs were allowed to open. Bars, gyms, and theaters remain closed.
Some Memorial Day celebrations went virtual, but campers filled available sites at state parks, including Falls Lake State Recreation Area near Raleigh and Carolina Beach State Park, near Wilmington, The N&O reported.
This story was originally published May 25, 2020 at 12:22 PM with the headline "Hospitalizations for coronavirus at a new high in NC."