An additional 93 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19 in North Carolina Monday, for a total of 1,179. That’s one higher than the previous high set on July 17. An additional 1,815 cases were reported by state health officials Tuesday, for a total of 102, 861. 26 additional coronavirus-related deaths increased the overall total to 1,668.
South Carolina reported another 1,870 COVID-19 cases Tuesday, for a total of 73,101. An additional 56 deaths raised the total since the pandemic began to 1,203. The positive test rate for Monday’s 8,490 tests was 22%.
More than 30,000 COVID-19 tests were completed in North Carolina Monday. The positive test rate was 8%, up from 7% the previous day. The state’s positive rate has ranged from 7 to 10% for the past several weeks.
Mecklenburg County health officials Tuesday said there have been 17,151 COVID-19 cases and 182 deaths among county residents. The number of hospitalizations increased over the past two weeks. During the past week there were an average of 190 people hospitalized due to coronavirus in Mecklenburg County acute care facilities. The positive test rate remained stable over the last 14 days at 10.9%.
The state health department on Tuesday announced they are delivering personal protection equipment (PPE) for agricultural workers. 31 counties, including Mecklenburg, have been selected to receive the first delivery. Farm workers are deemed essential workers, and the state this week is implementing a plan to deliver over 900,000 masks and other infection control supplies such as hand sanitizer and cloth face coverings.
“Many of our farmworkers live in group housing, putting them at higher risk of exposure to COVID-19. Providing masks is one way we are helping to protect workers,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen.
The supplies are being delivered to North Carolina Cooperative Extension County centers across the state, who will distribute them to farms and agricultural operations.