RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina reported 10,028 new COVID-19 cases and 115 deaths, marking the second consecutive day that cases and deaths have surpassed 10,000 and 100, respectively.
Over the last two days, there have been more than 20,400 cases and 250 deaths reported by the state Department of Health and Human Services.
Hospitalizations sit at 3,960, the same number as Thursday, but over the last month they have nearly doubled. On Dec. 1, there were 2,033 hospitalizations statewide.
Available beds in intensive care units across the state decreased to 328, down 10 from Thursday. On Saturday, available units were at 424.
Adult ICU patients increased to 833. It's the sixth consecutive day that the state has seen an increase. There haven't been fewer than 700 adult ICU patients since Dec. 23.
Available inpatient hospital beds decreased to 4,238, following a trend over the last few weeks. There were 6,281 beds available on Dec. 27.
Of all test results reported by DHHS on Wednesday, 13.9% returned positive, a slight increase from Tuesday's results. But it's still well above North Carolina's goal of 5%.
Case and hospitalization data reported by DHHS are preliminary and subject to change.
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.
DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen released a secretarial order reinforcing Cooper's order.
Cohen's order provides guidelines such as only leaving home for essential activity, wearing a mask around non-household members, and assuming infection and getting tested after gathering with anyone outside the household.
At 1 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, Cohen and state Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry will address the public for an update on the state's COVID-19 response.
