RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina reported nearly 10,400 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, by far the highest daily increase of the pandemic as the virus continues to surge across the state.
The previous high was 9,527 on New Year's Day, according to data from the state Department of Health and Human Services.
The seven-day average for daily-case increases now sits at a record 7,600 with Thursday's increase of 10,398 cases.
Hospitalizations are now at 3,960 continuing a weekslong increase.
The state on Thursday reported 137 additional people had died due to the virus, for a total of 7,213 over the entire pandemic.
Of all the tests Tuesday, the most recent day for which data was available, 13.5% came back positive. Over the last seven days, the average positive rate for each day was 15.2%. That's triple the rate that state health officials want.
Case and hospitalization reports are preliminary and subject to change upon further investigation.
Thursday's report continues a weekslong trend of increased cases, hospitalizations and deaths. From the beginning of December through the first week of 2021, metrics have increased rapidly across the board.
On Dec. 1, the seven-day average of new cases was just under 3,600, and 5,284 North Carolinians had died at the time. Hospitalizations were at 2,033.
Gov. Roy Cooper and state health officials have urged the public to wear masks and social distance to limit spread.
"These numbers paint a dark picture," Cooper posted on Twitter. "COVID-19 is spreading rapidly across our state. We're at a critical point in our fight against this virus, and all need to take responsibility for our own actions."
On Wednesday, Cooper extended the current modified stay-at-home order until Jan. 29. That order requires people to stay home from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. with some exceptions.
There are 338 available beds in intensive care units across the state, according to DHHS.
This is an increase from the 328 reported Wednesday, but available beds have trended downward in the past week.
On Jan. 2, there were 424 available ICU beds.
As of Thursday, there were 4,441 available in-patient hospital beds in the state, and 1,228 people were on ventilators.
