Monday saw a new record for North Carolina of residents hospitalized at once by COVID-19, marking a three-day run of increasing the previous high-water mark.
Reports from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services revealed 1,966 people statewide were in hospitals Sunday due to the coronavirus and its complications. This comes after Saturday and Sunday saw new records as well, when hospitals reported 1,826 and then 1,879 patients across the state.
The increase in hospitalizations began in early November, with the seven-day rolling average reported by NCDHHS moving higher with each day. The state also averaged 3,617 new daily cases last week with the average positive rate of tests reported as 7.8%.
State officials shared concerns last week about such increases, indicating the state is nearing a point where hospitals are seeing strained resources. Dr. Mandy Cohen, the Secretary of NCDHHS, said she believes North Carolina is on “very shaky ground” with its current coronavirus trends, particularly hospitalizations. More than half of the state’s hospital beds are full and preventing further increases will help hospital staff not become overwhelmed and resources not become strained.
“The coming weeks will be a true test of our resolve to do what it takes to keep people from getting sick, to save lives and to make sure you have hospital care for whether it’s a heart attack, a car accident or COVID-19 when you need it,” said Cohen.
Demographics for North Carolina’s hospitalizations indicates the most-hospitalized age group due to COVID-19 is state residents between 60-69 years old.
Monday’s full report from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services can be found on Chapelboro’s Coronavirus Tracker page.
Photo via the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
