Gov. Cooper at press conference
Dec. 30. The number of patients hospitalized with coronavirus in North Carolina fell slightly from the record highs of the past several days but new cases rose to 8,551, according to the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services.
Mecklenburg County’s number of new cases rose to 897 today, up from the mid-400s during the past three days.
Changes in reporting accounts for some of the size of the increases. Data reported Dec. 30 represents 36 hours, while data reported Dec. 31 will represent 12 hours.
There were 155 new deaths statewide in today’s report, also reflecting a change in the time frame.
Press conference
“This is a matter of life or death,” Gov. Roy Cooper said during a 2 pm press conference today. He extended the state’s eviction moratorium through the end of January, while NCDHHS Director Mandy Cohen updated the distribution status of the vaccines.
Dr. Mandy Cohen
“There is still work to be done to ensure that vaccines are distributed equitably,” she said, explaining that there are not enough vaccines to vaccinate everyone eligible during Phase One at this point. Click here to review the NCDHHS vaccination schedule. Those age 75 and up can get first doses next week, Cohen said.
Hospitalizations
The NCDHHS reported 3,339 people hospitalized statewide, down 38 from yesterday.
On Nov. 30 there were fewer than 2,000 people hospitalized statewide due to the coronavirus.
Health officials are once again warning people not to travel or gather during the holiday.
Coronavirus cases
Today’s increase of 8,551 cases exceeded the previous record of 8,444 new cases set on Dec. 18. The cumulative total is now 532,830 statewide. For Mecklenburg County, the total stands at 61,990, up 897 from yesterday.
Deaths
North Carolina has had a total of 6,729 deaths due to the coronavirus since the outbreak began in March. In the past week there have been 369 deaths statewide.
In Mecklenburg County, there have been 553 deaths due to the coronavirus, up eight from yesterday and up 39 in one week.
Testing
The statewide positivity rate was 14.8 oercent in today’s report. Mecklenburg County positivity rate was 11 percent in today’s report.
North Mecklenburg
Cornelius: 27 new cases, 1,569 cumulative; 17 deaths total.
Davidson: 16 new cases, 822 cumulative; 8 deaths total.
Huntersville: 50 new cases, 3,138 cumulative; 21 deaths total.
