As North Carolina observes a day of mourning to grieve those who lost their lives to COVID-19, state officials announced Monday that 898 people have died of coronavirus in the state. That’s an increase of 12 from Sunday.
“This is an opportunity to remind ourselves that our death count is not just a number, it represents people, communities and families in mourning,” Governor Roy Cooper said. Cooper has ordered all state flags to be lowered to half-staff in memory of those who died from coronavirus.
There were 674 additional COVID-19 cases reported Monday, for a total of 29,263. 650 people are currently hospitalized due to coronavirus, an increase of 1. More than 421,000 people have been tested, and 9% of total tests were positive on Sunday, May 31. That’s up from 8% the previous day.
Mecklenburg County reported 4,412 cases along with 92 deaths. That translates to 40 cases per 10,000 residents. Wake County has the second-highest number of cases with 1,773, which is 16 cases per 10,000 residents. Duplin County (846) has 144 cases per 10,000 residents, according to state health officials.
44% of North Carolina COVID-19 cases are in people between 25 and 49 years old, 22% in those 50-64, 10% in 18 to 24 year olds, 9% in people over 75, 8 percent in those 65 to 74 and 7% 17 years old and younger. When it comes to coronavirus-related deaths in the state, 83% are 65 and older, 12% between 50 and 64 and 4% between 25 and 49.