Daily COVID-19 cases pass 4,000 to set new NC record. Hospitalizations hit new high.
North Carolina reported 4,296 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, exceeding by hundreds the state’s previous record for daily cases. The previous record, set Saturday, was 3,885.
The total number of confirmed cases during the pandemic now stands at 325,158 statewide, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
The new daily high came with a significant jump in tests reported Thursday to 54,560, up from 33,029 tests reported Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the state reported a lower positive test rate. Roughly 7.9% of tests were positive Tuesday, the most recent day for which data was available, down from 9.3% Monday. The state wants to see a positive test rate of 5%.
The state also reported 1,538 hospitalizations, breaking the record set Wednesday by one. State officials last week said patient counts would be higher due to a change in how the federal government reports hospital stays.
Thirty-eight more people died from COVID-19 related causes, bringing total pandemic deaths in North Carolina to 4,936, the state reported.
The surge in cases comes just a week before Thanksgiving. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised people not to travel for the holiday and to cancel plans with those outside their household, during a briefing Thursday.
Cases by demographics
The state’s COVID-19 data shows that younger people make up the majority of cases. Forty percent of cases are among people ages 25-49, 16% are among people ages 18-24, and 11% are among people ages 0-17.
The data also shows that Hispanic people continue to contract COVID-19 at disproportionately higher rates. They account for 28% of reported cases despite making up just 10% of the state’s population. Hispanic people make up 9% of deaths statewide, roughly proportional to their share of the population.
Black people are disproportionately represented among deaths, accounting for 29% of COVID-19 deaths but making up 22% of the state’s population. Black people are also disproportionately represented among deaths in Wake, Durham, and Orange counties.
People over the age of 75 make up the majority of deaths: 58%. People between 65 and 74 make up 23% of deaths.
Triangle schools report clusters
Four Triangle private schools reported COVID-19 clusters this week.
One small Durham school, Liberty Christian Academy reported 26 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 20 among students and six from staff, in the latest report on clusters at child care centers and schools released by DHHS.
Liberty had 183 students and 17 staff last school year, according to a state directory.
This story was originally published November 19, 2020 at 12:42 PM with the headline "Daily COVID-19 cases pass 4,000 to set new NC record. Hospitalizations hit new high.."
