New COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to fall in North Carolina

Ben Sessoms
·2 min read

North Carolina reported 2,145 new COVID-19 cases and 1,303 hospitalizations Wednesday, a continuation of a weeks-long decrease in coronavirus metrics statewide.

It’s the fewest hospitalizations reported since Nov. 11.

Over the last week, the state Department of Health and Human Services has reported an average of 2,275 new cases per day, the lowest seven-day average since Oct. 28.

Among COVID-19 tests reported Monday, the latest day with available data, 6.1% were positive, an increase from the 5.9% reported Sunday.

State health officials have said that they want the rate at 5% or lower to control the spread of the virus.

The state met that mark Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday of last week.

But the most recent seven-day average still was above the target, at 5.2%.

COVID-19 data of the day

Case and hospitalization data reported by DHHS are preliminary and subject to change upon further investigation. Here are additional statistics reported Wednesday, with changes from the previous day:

  • Total cases: 865,554 (+2,145)

  • Deaths: 11,363 (+75)*

  • Tests: 10,341,299 (+29,418)

  • People hospitalized: 1,303 (-40)

  • COVID-19 adult ICU patients: 332 (-3)

  • Available ICU beds: 521 (-64)

  • Available inpatient beds: 5,388 (-355)

  • Patients on ventilators: 953 (-4)

Inpatient and ICU beds are not all used by COVID-19 patients, according to DHHS.

*Deaths do not all occur on the date they are reported. DHHS updates its numbers as information becomes available. For example, according to the latest DHHS data, the deadliest day of the pandemic was Jan. 15 when 120 people died. The number of deaths assigned to that date has increased by 20 since the end of January.

Vaccine statistics reported Wednesday:

  • First doses arrived: 1,475,370

  • First doses administered: 1,485,453 (101%)**

  • Second doses arrived: 1,030,825

  • Second doses administered: 882,329 (86%)

**The doses administered can exceed doses arrived because hospitals and other health care providers have learned that they can get an extra dose from each vial of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine.

Vaccine doses administered in North Carolina through the federal, long-term care program:

  • First doses arrived: 145,900

  • First doses administered: 122,133 (84%)

  • Second doses arrived: 145,900

  • Second doses administered: 85,104 (58%)

Across the state, a total of 2,575,019 doses have been administered. As of Tuesday, 967,433 North Carolinians are fully vaccinated, having received second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.