COVID-19 Illness Reduces ICU Bed Availability In North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, NC— An increase in coronavirus-related illness has left fewer than a quarter of the state's intensive care unit beds available, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported Wednesday.

The coronavirus death toll in North Carolina rose by 28 deaths Wednesday for a total of 794 lives lost in the state from coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. At least 15 of the new deaths reported Wednesday were in nursing homes, according to data. Since Tuesday, 488 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in North Carolina, bringing the total to 24,628.

COVID-19 hospitalizations rose overnight to 702 patients, 81 more than reported Tuesday.

According to the state agency, a survey of about 92 percent of the state's hospitals shows that 24 percent of North Carolina's ventilators were in use Wednesday. By contrast, however, about 78 percent of the state's intensive care beds and 71 percent of inpatient hospital beds were also listed as in use.


SEE ALSO: Be Like NASCAR, Submit Coronavirus Plan, NC Governor Tells RNC


The state collected results from 11,825 tests Tuesday, which increased the total number of tests processed in the state to more than 364,000. The state's goal is to test between 5,000 and 7,000 people per day and state public health officials say increases in the number of confirmed cases are expected as testing ramps up throughout North Carolina.

As of May 25, an estimated 14,954 residents who were confirmed to have the coronavirus are considered likely recovered, NC DHHS said.

COVID-19 outbreaks in congregate living facilities, such as nursing homes, residential care facilities and correctional facilities included 4,976 confirmed cases Wednesday, reflected about 20 percent of the total cases confirmed in the state, according to NC DHHS data.

About one out of every five nursing homes in the state reported a COVID-19 outbreak, with 84 of the state's 409 nursing home facilities reporting an illness either among staff and/or residents. State health officials also reported outbreaks at 35 residential care facilities and 17 correctional facilities.

At least 421 deaths of nursing home residents were reported Wednesday, 15 more than reported Tuesday. As of May 27, 58 residential care facility residents and 16 inmates in North Carolina have also died from coronavirus-related illness.


Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates from health and government officials in North Carolina. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily.


Mecklenburg County, the hardest hit county in the state, reported 3,478 confirmed cases Wednesday, 75 more than Tuesday. The county has also reported 7 new COVID-19 deaths, for a total of 80.

Globally, more than 5.6 million have been infected by COVID-19, and more than 351,000 people have lost their lives, Johns Hopkins University reported Wednesday afternoon. In the U.S., more than 1.6 million people have been infected and at least 99,123 people have died from COVID-19.


RELATED:

This article originally appeared on the Charlotte Patch