RALEIGH, N.C. — The state heath department reported North Carolina's highest daily number of newly confirmed COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday.
The 67 deaths brought the total number of deaths in North Carolina since the pandemic began in March to 4,457. Not all of the deaths are from a single day. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reports them as they are confirmed.
Before Tuesday, the highest number of deaths DHHS reported on a single day had been 53, on Sept. 25 and Oct. 20.
After a decline Sunday and Monday, the reported number of new COVID-19 cases rose again Tuesday.
DHHS reported 2,349 new laboratory confirmed cases Tuesday, the 12th-highest total since the pandemic began. Late last week, the department reported its three highest days so far, with more than 2,800 new cases on consecutive days.
Tuesday also saw the seven-day rolling average of new daily cases tick upward, from 2,327 to 2,356. The Tuesday average is North Carolina's second highest, falling short of Sunday's 2,370.
Across North Carolina, 1,175 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 Tuesday, with 97% of the state's hospitals reporting.
Due to increasing cases and hospitalizations, Gov. Roy Cooper on Oct. 21 extended Phase Three restrictions until at least Nov. 13. Those restrictions include bars remaining closed indoors, reduced capacity for entertainment venues and a mass gathering limit of 50 people outdoors or 25 people indoors.
Since Cooper extended Phase Three, nearly 30,000 people in North Carolina have contracted COVID-19 and 425 people have died from the illness.
During a briefing last week, state officials addressed escalating numbers. Dr. Mandy Cohen, the state health secretary, said it is important to follow public health measures to prevent the virus from spreading. Cohen continued to stress wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and avoiding large gatherings.
"It is in all of our communities, in all spaces," she said, "which is why we have to be vigilant across the board."
