As North Carolina heads into the holiday weekend, COVID-19 cases continue to increase. A record-high 2,099 new cases were reported Friday for a total of 70,241. 951 people are currently hospitalized due to coronavirus, the highest number to-date and an increase of 39 from the previous day. 1 additional death was reported for a total of 1,392.
More than 23,000 COVID-19 tests were conducted Thursday, with 11% of those positive, the highest number since late April. There have been nearly 1 million tests conducted in the state. Mecklenburg County accounted for more than 20% of the newly reported cases with 430 and a total of 12,233.
“We are seeing significant spread of the virus and it is very concerning," said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D. “Today we have the highest reported day of new cases and hospitalizations - and that should be a warning to us all as we go into this holiday weekend. We don’t get a holiday from COVID-19. We all need to wear a face covering, avoid crowds and wash our hands often.”
NCDHHS says they are responding to the pandemic on multiple fronts, including surging testing and contact tracing resources in communities and populations that have been hardest hit by COVID-19.