RALEIGH, N.C. _ North Carolina reported more than 1,200 new coronavirus cases Monday, and the number of hospitalized patients climbed by 50.
The state Department of Health and Human Services reported 156,396 confirmed cases of COVID-19, up 1,283 from Sunday's total.
Fatalities rose to 2,535 statewide Monday, up four deaths from Sunday.
Reported patients with COVID-19 in hospitals statewide rose to 948, up from 898 on Sunday. DHHS reported 388 suspected cases within a 24-hour period. Available intensive-care beds fell to 580 statewide.
Testing for COVID-19 rose to 2.08 million across the state, and the rate of positive results was at 7.3%, near where it has hovered for several days. That rate is one figure DHHS watches closely to monitor the pandemic's spread, and health officials have set 5% as a goal.
The largest segment of the state's population to have developed COVID-19, at 43%, remains between the ages of 25 and 49.
More than half the deaths, though, have struck residents older than 75.
As of Monday, 136,630 people are presumed to have recovered from the virus, DHHS reported.
