31 COVID-19 Deaths, 6,197 New Cases Over Weekend In NC

NORTH CAROLINA — State public health officials in North Carolina said Monday that the spread of novel coronavirus had grown to 87,528 confirmed cases — 6,197 more cases than reported Friday. The state's COVID-19 death toll also increased over the weekend to 1,510, an increase of 31 lives lost to the virus throughout the state since July 10.

On Saturday, the state reported 2,462 new cases, which represents the highest one-day increase in COVID-19 positive tests in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

“Record-high numbers like today are concerning," said DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen said in a statement. “We all have a responsibility to one another to wear a face covering, avoid crowds and wash our hands often to get our trends going back in the right direction.”

As of Monday, 1,040 patients were being treated at hospitals for coronavirus-related illnesses, according to DHHS data. A survey of 80 percent of the state's hospitals indicated there were 4,339 empty inpatient and 513 empty intensive care unit beds remaining in the state.

This week, Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to announce the plan for how schools will reopen next month. As of Monday, there were 83 confirmed COVID-19 cases associated with clusters reported at either a school or one of 10 child care centers throughout the state.

SEE ALSO: Readers Say Too Soon For NC Schools To Safely Reopen: Survey

The spread of novel coronavirus throughout North Carolina is starting to put the squeeze on hospital resources, particularly in the Charlotte metro region, state officials said late last week.

"Our trends are not where we want them to be right now. It's good that we still have hospital and [intensive care unit] bed capacity, but we're watching closely and paying particular attention to hospitals in the Charlotte area," Gov. Roy Cooper said at a news conference Thursday.

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Eight counties in North Carolina, including Mecklenburg County, are at a "tipping point" and should revert to stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of COVID-19, Harvard Global Health Institute said Monday.

Mecklenburg, Gaston, Hyde, Montgomery, Robeson, Wilson, Duplin, and Tyrell counties are considered to be at COVID Risk level "Red," and are in need of stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of the virus, according to the Harvard Global Health Institute. The designation is given to counties experiencing a "tipping point," and reporting 25 or more COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people.

Globally, more than 12.9 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and more than 570,000 people have died, Johns Hopkins University reported Monday. In the United States, more than 3.3 million people have been infected and more than 135,000 people have died from COVID-19.

SEE ALSO:

• North Carolina GOP State Senator Tests Positive For COVID-19
• Coronavirus Relief Loans In Charlotte: Where PPP Money Went
• No Doctor's Referral Needed Now For COVID-19 Testing In NC