RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina hit a record-high number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients for the fourth day in a row Tuesday as positive tests continue to surge.
The state Department of Health and Human Resources reported 2,033 people in hospitals statewide, the first time that number has crossed 2,000 since the pandemic began in March.
Also on Tuesday, DHHS said the rate of positive COVID-19 tests is now at 10.2% — more than twice the level state health officials are seeking.
North Carolina had set records for the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients for the last three days in a row, going from 1,840 to 1,966.
On Nov. 1, by contrast, that number stood at 1,140.
DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen has noted that reporting requirements have changed for North Carolina hospitals. But even without those changes, state health officials worry that cold weather and holiday gatherings will continue to tax the state's medical staff.
While the state's hospitals have not reached capacity, the space for COVID-19 patients also dropped Tuesday. Empty intensive-care beds fell by 58 to 496 statewide; inpatient beds dropped by 669 to 5,552.
Gov. Roy Cooper and his coronavirus task force will hold a press conference to update the state's response at 3 p.m. EST Tuesday.
Meanwhile, DHHS reported 367,395 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on its daily dashboard, up 2,883 from Monday's total.
Deaths rose to 5,284 statewide, up 23 from Monday.
The state has also updated its list of COVID-19 clusters, which now total 925 across North Carolina, bringing 89 related deaths.
The category with the most clusters statewide remains colleges and universities, which have reported 200, and religious gatherings, which have seen 121 across the state.
Restaurants, meanwhile, have seen 27 clusters with three more in bars, still closed to customers indoors.
