COVID-19 In NC: 1,656 New Cases As Death Toll Surpasses 2,800

NORTH CAROLINA — The number of known coronavirus cases in North Carolina rose by 1,656 cases Thursday, increasing the state's tally of COVID-19 cases to 172,209, according to North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services data.

The state's virus death toll rose by 24 Thursday, increasing the number of lives lost to COVID-19 in the state to 2,803. As of Sept. 3, about 7.6 percent of tests in North Carolina were positive, according to DHHS data.

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.

Hospitalizations remained flat at 838 patients reported for the second day in a row, according to reported data. A Sept. 3 survey of 77 percent of the state's hospitals reported that there were 5,033 empty staffed inpatient hospital beds and 511 empty staffed intensive care unit beds remaining in the state. Ventilators also remained in supply, according to the survey, with 2,117 available, DHHS said.

As of Thursday, there were four COVID-19 clusters reported at North Carolina schools and 22 active clusters at child care centers. DHHS defines a cluster as five or more laboratory-confirmed cases that are linked. As of Sept. 3, there were at least 33 positive COVID-19 cases associated with school clusters and at least 264 positive cases associated with child care centers.

Globally, more than 26 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and more than 864,000 people have died, Johns Hopkins University reported Thursday afternoon. In the United States, more than 6 million people have been infected and more than 186,000 people have died from COVID-19.

SEE ALSO:

• Trump Tells Supporters To Vote Twice, Which Is A Felony In NC
• COVID-19 Clusters Reported at UNCC, Davidson College
• NC Gyms, Playgrounds, Bowling Alleys To Reopen: Gov. Cooper
• Mail-In Voting In North Carolina: Deadlines, How To Get A Ballot
• Vote-By-Mail Survey: NC Voters Nervous Ballots Won't Be Counted