North Carolina surpassed 3,000 resident deaths caused by the coronavirus on Friday.

The latest reports from the state Department of Health and Human Services revealed the crossing of the benchmark, as it now lists 3,023 deaths caused by COVID-19 symptoms or complications. It comes as North Carolina’s coronavirus trends have largely stabilized, but not decreased.

The state reported its first coronavirus-related deaths on March 25 and reached the 100 mark by April 14. Spread among nursing homes caused hundreds of deaths by the time 1,000 were recorded in June. At the time, state officials said they were concerned about North Carolina’s trends and its record-setting hospitalizations amid the pandemic.

While the state has since seen a stabilization of trends, enough for Governor Roy Cooper to announce a move into Phase 2.5 of reopening last week, Friday’s crossing of 3,000 deaths represents how North Carolina still has not overcome the virus. It becomes the 17th state in the U.S. to cross the benchmark. A visit from White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx on Wednesday also saw her “lament” the lack of residents wearing masks, according to NCDHHS’ Dr. Mandy Cohen.

“We are simmering,” said Cohen at a press conference this week. “We have a high level of viral spread, and we need to get that down, so we can make progress in opening other businesses.”

According to The News & Observer, a federal government coronavirus task force sent reports to the nation’s governors this past week. North Carolina qualifies in the “red zone” for new cases, since it has more than 100 new cases for every 100,000 people.

Locally, Orange County is reporting 2,480 cases and 54 deaths, while Chatham County reports 1,562cases and 56 deaths since the pandemic began.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
5,000 North Carolinians Now Dead from COVID-19
New daily reports of COVID-19 cases around North Carolina revealed the state has surpassed another grim benchmark. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported Saturday nine new deaths of state residents from the coronavirus, bringing the state’s total number of casualties to 5,005. North Carolina’s cumulative total of positive cases now stands […]
January Marks North Carolina's Deadliest Month in COVID-19 Pandemic
January 2021 was the deadliest month for COVID-19 deaths in North Carolina, with more than 2,500 deaths from the coronavirus. Data from North Carolina Health and Human Services shows 2,587 coronavirus deaths were reported in January — eclipsing the previous high of 1,487 in December 2020. North Carolina has reported 9,342 total deaths from COVID-19 […]
North Carolina Saw 91 Workplace Fatalities in 2020
North Carolina has experienced the deadliest year for workplace fatalities in at least 10 years. The Winston-Salem Journal reports that there were 91 workplace fatalities in 2020. That number includes 26 related to COVID-19. The figures were released Friday by the state Labor Department. In 2019, there were 55 workplace fatalities. That was the previous highest total […]
2 More NC Prison Inmates Die From COVID-19 Complications
Two more male inmates at a North Carolina prison with among the highest number of COVID-19 cases have died after testing positive for the virus, state prison officials said. One offender at Albemarle Correctional Institution in Stanly County died at an unnamed hospital on Friday, the Department of Public Safety said in a news release, while another […]
North Carolina Judge Delays Order on Services for Disabled
Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A trial judge has agreed to delay enforcement of his order setting a robust schedule upon which North Carolina health officials must provide significantly more community services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities while the state appeals his ruling. Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour, who signed the legal stay dated Thursday, had […]
Costs Watched as Medicaid Managed Care Begins in N. Carolina
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON After six years of preparations and delays, most of North Carolina’s Medicaid recipients switched over to managed care Thursday with its developers hopeful the changes will mean improved health outcomes and controlled costs. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Rep. Donny Lambeth, a Forsyth County Republican who helped pass […]
As Vaccinations Drop, North Carolina May Offer Financial Perks
Written by BRYAN ANDERSON At a time when fewer and fewer North Carolinians are coming in for a COVID-19 vaccine, state health officials are examining ideas from other states to see what incentives might work to boost participation. Among the proposals being actively discussed are savings account payments to younger adults — a group that has […]
All North Carolinians 16+ Now Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccines
On Wednesday, all North Carolinians age 16 and up will be eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccine.
One Year Into the Pandemic, Orange County Reaches 100 COVID Deaths
More than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, Orange County reached a sobering benchmark. With one death reported from county residents in the last week, Orange County registered its 100th death from COVID-19, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The first death from COVID-19 in Orange County occurred on April […]
Audit: NC Medicaid Failed To Confirm Provider Qualifications
North Carolina’s Medicaid agency fell short on ensuring doctors and other medical providers met licensing and ownership qualifications to serve patients in the program, state auditors declared Thursday. The report from State Auditor Beth Wood’s office examined samples from among the 90,000 Medicaid providers in the state in 2019. The performance audit found that the Division of […]
›