North Carolina COVID-19 Hospitalizations Break Record High

NORTH CAROLINA — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released updated data pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic Tuesday and chief among the news was a somber stat.

North Carolina has broken the record for the most amount of COVID-19 hospitalizations since the onset of the pandemic with 5,055 people in hospitalized care for the virus.

According to state health officials, there are 13,017 new COVID cases reported and a positive testing average of more than 36 percent.

"We continue to monitor hospital capacity and staffing needs and have requested resources, including additional nurses from FEMA," said Governor Roy Cooper Friday. "We appreciate previous federal support and will keep working to make sure that people get the medical care they need."

The state's health system is currently above 95 percent capacity and state officials have requested federal help.

In early January, FEMA provided the state with 25 ambulances. They have been deployed to 11 counties and are currently scheduled to remain in North Carolina until Feb. 3.

This article originally appeared on the Charlotte Patch