Deadly Surge: 82 COVID-19 Deaths In NC In One Day

CHARLOTTE, NC — In the span of one day, 82 new coronavirus deaths and 4,199 newly confirmed cases were reported in North Carolina. The percent of positive tests rose to 11.4 percent, a new record, according to public health data.

As of Dec. 2, the spread of coronavirus in the state was up to at least 371,594 confirmed cases and had claimed at least 5,366 lives since March, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported.

Statewide hospitalizations also rose to a new high Wednesday. According to DHHS data, at least 2,039 patients sought medical treatment for coronavirus illness, an increase of 73 patients reported since Monday.

Supply of staffed hospital beds are growing thin in the 13 counties that comprise the Charlotte metro region. As of Tuesday, about 88 percent of the regional staffed intensive care unit beds were full, leaving 53 empty staffed ICU beds, according to DHHS. About 80 percent of the region's staffed inpatient hospital beds were full, leaving 910 staffed beds available.

In Mecklenburg County, an average of 208 people were hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 infections, county health officials said Tuesday.

Mecklenburg County Public Health reported that in the past week, they received reports of an average of 356 lab-confirmed COVID-19 infections, representing an increase from the previously reported 14-day average of 350 confirmed infections. As of Dec. 1, about 8.9 percent of those tested in the county were positive for coronavirus.

While cases continue to mount, there is optimistic news on the horizon, according to Gov. Roy Cooper, who outlined North Carolina's COVID-19 vaccination plan Tuesday. As soon as a vaccine is federally approved, the state is on track to receive 84,800 doses, which will be initially prioritized for frontline healthcare workers and those living and working in long term care facilities.

SEE ALSO: NC Health Officials Preparing For COVID-19 Vaccine Roll Out

Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna have applied for authorization by the Food and Drug Administration to begin using their COVID-19 vaccines. The FDA is set to review Pfizer's application on Dec. 10 and Moderna's application on Dec. 17, CNN said. Both companies have reported data showing they are at least 94 percent or more effective in preventing COVID-19.

Should the FDA authorize the Pfizer vaccine next Thursday, it won't be long before frontline healthcare workers in North Carolina will begin receiving it, Cooper said. Once vaccines are federally cleared for use, they could begin arriving in North Carolina by mid December.

Vaccinations will be free for all state residents, regardless of insurance coverage, he added.

J. Ryne Danielson, Patch Staff, contributed