Following Dip, NC COVID-19 Positivity Jumps To 8.2 Percent

NORTH CAROLINA — The number of known coronavirus cases in North Carolina jumped by 2,091Thursday, pushing the state's COVID-19 positivity rate upward to 8.2 percent — the highest rate reported in at least a month.

As of Thursday, North Carolina reported 161,076 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 2,630 deaths, according to data released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Turnaround time for COVID-19 testing was averaging about 2.1 days, DHHS said.

Earlier this week, DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen said North Carolina's increases in cases in recent weeks was largely driven by the reopening of schools and universities.

SEE ALSO: University Reopenings Lead To Uptick In COVID-19 Spread In NC

"We knew there would be some viral spread from the reopening," of colleges, universities and K-12 schools, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen said Tuesday. "What we're seeing is that spread of virus in social gatherings, parties, particularly ones that are off campus, as well as housing that is off campus," such as sororities, fraternities and other group houses.

The number of COVID-19 cases associated with clusters at schools and child care centers continues to increase, according to data. DHHS defines a cluster as five or more laboratory-confirmed cases that are linked. As of Aug. 27, clusters reported at 22 child care centers were associated with 249 COVID-19 cases, and three clusters at schools in the state were connected to at least 22 cases.

COVID-19 clusters have been reported in schools in Macon, Rowan and Sampson counties.

As of Aug. 27, the counties reporting the highest positivity rates were:

• Montgomery County — 19.6 percent
• Robeson County — 15.8 percent
• Hertford County — 15 percent
• Hoke County — 12.9 percent
• Pitt County — 12.2 percent
• Bertie County — 11.2 percent
• Scotland County — 10.9 percent
• Richmond County — 10.7 percent
• Orange County — 10.5 percent
• Rutherford County — 10.4 percent

Hospitalizations dipped to 948 patients, 46 fewer than reported Wednesday. An Aug. 27 survey of 89 percent of the state's hospitals reported that there were 5,520 empty staffed inpatient hospital beds and 552 empty staffed intensive care unit beds remaining in the state.

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