NC COVID-19 Update: 1,137 Newly Confirmed Cases, 38 Deaths

NORTH CAROLINA — The number of known cases of COVID-19 in North Carolina rose by 1,137 cases Wednesday, increasing the state's tally to 188,024, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said.

As of Wednesday, North Carolina's death toll was 3,149, an increase of 38 deaths since Tuesday.

Nearly 6 percent of tests in North Carolina were positive Wednesday, up from 5 percent reported Tuesday, DHHS data showed. Reported hospitalizations remained stable overnight throughout the state. At least 918 patients were hospitalized for COVID-like symptoms Wednesday, an increase of two patients since Tuesday.

A Sept. 16 survey of 96 percent of the state's hospitals reported that there were 5,382 empty staffed inpatient hospital beds and 529 empty staffed intensive care unit beds remaining in the state. Ventilators also remained in supply, according to the survey, with 2,322 available, DHHS said.

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As of Wednesday, there were eight COVID-19 clusters reported in North Carolina schools and 12 active clusters at child care centers. DHHS defines a cluster as five or more laboratory-confirmed cases that are linked. As of Sept. 16, there were at least 47 positive COVID-19 cases associated with school clusters and at least 316 positive cases associated with child care centers.

Globally, nearly 30 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and more than 937,000 people have died, Johns Hopkins University reported Wednesday. In the United States, more than 6.6 million people have been infected and more than 196,000 people have died from COVID-19.

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