RALEIGH, N.C. _ Coronavirus cases in North Carolina topped 60,000 Saturday, though the number of hospitalized patients fell slightly.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported 60,537 confirmed cases of COVID-19, up 1,719 from Friday's total. That tally nears the record for a single-day jump in the case count, which was recorded on June 12 with 1,768.
Fatalities statewide rose to 1,318, jumping by 15 dead since Friday. Of those dead, 80% are older than 65.
Across the state, 888 people remain hospitalized, falling by six patients since Friday. Of the state's inpatient beds, 77% were occupied Saturday, along with 73% of total intensive care beds.
About 90% of North Carolina's hospitals reported data to DHHS, so the number of hospitalized patients and percentages of occupied beds may be higher.
COVID-19 testing numbers continued to soar Saturday, rising to 855,131 statewide. The state is now conducting roughly 20,000 tests per day, and 10% of patients test positive.
As of Saturday morning, DHHS had recorded 766 deaths at nursing homes or other residential care centers _ more than half the total fatalities.
White Oak Manor, a nursing home in Alamance County, had the state's highest death count with 31.
The state saw its first coronavirus case recorded on March 3, and by April 29 it had topped 10,000.
The updated totals come on the first full day of Gov. Roy Cooper's executive order requiring masks in public places, which saw opposition Friday from protesters at the Legislature.
