NC Health Officials Announce 4,760 New COVID-19 Cases, 58 Deaths

NORTH CAROLINA — New confirmed cases of the coronavirus and deaths associated with the virus continue to be reported across North Carolina at a time when state health officials are urging residents to get vaccines to help prevent the flu.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday that 4,760 new cases of COVID-19 had been reported across the state along with 58 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. State health officials also announced that 3,690 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19. The number of new cases has dropped significantly since Saturday, when 11,337 new cases were reported.

A total of 1,308,150 cases of the coronavirus have been reported since the pandemic began last year and 15,305 people have died. As of Tuesday, the state’s positivity rate stood at 13 percent and 67 percent of North Carolina adult residents have received at least one dose of the vaccines while 62 percent of adults have been fully vaccinated.

Still, while COVID-19 cases remain prevalent, health officials are urging residents to stay healthy in another way.

“COVID-19 is still here, still sending North Carolinians to the hospital with severe illness and still causing deaths. As flu season begins, we all need to do what we can to be as healthy as possible,” Dr. Elizabeth Tilson, state health director and chief medical officer said on Monday. “It is critically important to get your flu vaccine and your COVID-19 vaccine. Flu can be a serious and sometimes deadly disease. Getting vaccinated can prevent you from getting ill and keep you from needing a hospital bed.”

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention recommend that anyone six months of age or older get the flu vaccine. Vaccination against the flu can make illness milder and reduce the risk of more serious outcomes, making it especially important for those at higher risk of complications, such as people over 65, officials said.

Health officials said that symptoms for COVID-19 and the flu can be similar and that anyone who feels like they are experiencing symptoms should see a doctor and should be tested immediately.