North Carolina Coronavirus Hospitalizations Fall Below 500

NORTH CAROLINA — The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus dropped significantly Sunday in North Carolina, decreasing by 71 people from 513 hospitalizations on Saturday to 442 hospital patients on Mother's Day, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The count marks the first time since last Monday that the number of hospitalizations fell below 500.

As of Sunday, the NC DHHS reported 14,764 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, up from 14,360 cases Saturday. The number of deaths in the state rose by three, from 544 Saturday to 547 Sunday.

A growing number of reported cases is expected because North Carolina’s testing is increasing. The state collected results from 5,773 tests on Sunday. The state's goal is to test between 5,000 and 7,000 people per day.

Mecklenburg County continues to report the most number of positive cases. As of Sunday, 2,074 people in the county had tested positive and 61 people have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The other area with high numbers of positive cases is the Research Triangle where Wake County reported 1,030 positive cases and 23 deaths as of Sunday. Durham County had the next most positive cases in the state, at 865. As of Sunday, 32 people in Durham County had died from COVID-19.

Wayne County, with a relatively small population compared to the other North Carolina counties in the top five of positive cases, has 743 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus and 13 deaths.

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The North Carolina county with the fifth highest number of positive cases is in the Triad area where Guilford County is reporting 592 positive cases and 38 deaths from COVID-19, according to the NC DHHS.

Eased stay-at-home restrictions went into effect Friday at 5 p.m. They include opening the capacity of retail businesses from 20 percent to 50 percent capacity; opening child-care centers for unemployed residents who are looking for work; and encouraging residents to get outdoors and enjoy hiking and jogging at state parks and trails.

Bars and restaurants are still restricted to takeout and delivery, and personal care services, theaters and music venues, gyms and playgrounds remain closed.

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