Source: NC Dept. of Health & Human Services
Dec. 29. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continue to increase, with the statewide total climbing 185 to 3,377 in today’s NC Dept. of Health and Human Services report. It’s again a record high.
“Everyone must act right now to protect each other,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D.
Lagging indicators
Dr. Mandy Cohen NCDHHS secretary
Hospitalizations—and deaths—are lagging indicators of where the coronavirus is heading at any given point in time.
The rate of increase in the number of new cases has at least temporarily eased off from mid-December when the daily number of new cases jumped to the 5,000 level and then the 6,000-plus level on a regular basis, suggesting some smaller North Carolina hospitals would begin being overwhelmed.
Two Triangle area hospitals — Johnston County’s hospitals in Clayton and Smithfield — have been full or nearly full since the week after Thanksgiving, according to the Raleigh News & Observer.
Another spike?
Dr. Anthony Fauci
Today’s increase in new cases was 3,563, down from 3,888 new cases yesterday and from 8,444 new cases on Dec. 18.
The surge in cases “has just gotten out of control in many respects,” according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and one of the lead members of the Trump administration’s White House Coronavirus Task Force.
Deaths
There were 13 new deaths in today’s report, for a total of 6,574 deaths since the outbreak began here in March.
In Mecklenburg County, there were two new COVID-19 deaths, for a total of 545.
Testing
The statewide positive test rate fell to 13.5 percent in today’s report, down from 14.7 percent yesterday. It ranged between 10.5 percent and 11.1 percent during the week before Christmas.
Total cases
Statewide, the cumulative total of COVID-19 cases now stands at 524,279. For Mecklenburg County, the total stands at 61,093, up 475 from yesterday.
North Mecklenburg
Cornelius: 13 new cases, 1,542 cumulative; 17 deaths total.
Davidson: 12 new cases, 806 cumulative; 8 deaths total.
Huntersville: 29 new cases, 3,088 cumulative; 21 deaths total.
