The number of reported COVID-19 cases in North Carolina increased by 622 from Thursday to Friday, following an increase of nearly 700 from Wednesday to Thursday. The total number of cases, according to state health officials, is 17,129. The number of current hospitalizations declined 15 to 492. More than 231,000 tests have been completed.
An additional 26 coronavirus-related deaths were reported Friday, for a total of 641. 20 of those deaths were in North Carolina nursing homes, which have had 2,422 cases and 338 deaths. One additional ongoing outbreak was reported, for a total of 72. There have been 437 cases and 46 deaths at residential care facilities, with 1,111 cases and 14 deaths at correctional facilities.
Mecklenburg County health officials Friday reported 2,283 COVID-19 cases and 63 deaths among county residents. 4 of those deaths were in adults ages 50 to 59, with the rest being 60 and older. All Mecklenburg County deaths occurred among adults with underlying chronic illnesses. More than half the deaths were connected to active outbreaks at long-term care facilities.
When it comes to coronavirus cases in Mecklenburg County, health officials say about 3 in 4 were adults between 20 and 59. About 1 in 7 reported cases were hospitalized due to COVID-19. During the past week, an average of 54 people with coronavirus were hospitalized in Mecklenburg County, a decrease over the past 14 days. During the past week an average of 7 percent of those who were tested by Atrium Health and Novant Health were positive for COVID-19, a slight decrease over the past two weeks.