Record Breaking Spike In COVID-19 Cases: More Than 3K In One Day

NORTH CAROLINA — The number of known coronavirus cases in North Carolina jumped by 3,119 cases Wednesday, marking the largest one-day increase for the state since it began tracking the virus in March.

As of Nov. 11, North Carolina reported a total of 300,561 confirmed cases.

The news comes as state public health officials urge state residents to avoid traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday in an attempt to clamp down on large social gatherings that they say have helped fuel spread of COVID-19 around the state.

SEE ALSO: NC Lowers Indoor Mass Gathering Limit To 10 In New Order

"This is not the milestone we want to be hitting, particularly as we head into holidays where people want to come together," North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen said Wednesday in a statement.

Also up, according to DHHS data, is the percent of tests coming back positive for the virus, as well as the number of hospitalizations. As of Wednesday, 7.9 percent of tests were positive, up from an average of about 5 percent reported in September.

At least 1,246 patients were hospitalized Wednesday, an increase of 16 patients in a day, according to DHHS. As of Wednesday, 453 empty staffed intensive care unit beds remained available, representing about 19 percent of the state's supply. About 23 percent — or 4,804 — of staffed inpatient hospital beds remained available around the state, DHHS said.

As of Wednesday, there were 36 COVID-19 clusters reported in K-12 schools in North Carolina. DHHS defines a cluster as five or more lab-confirmed cases that are linked. At least 494 positive COVID-19 cases were associated with K-12 school clusters, DHHS said.

In a bid to curb the increasing transmission of coronavirus throughout the state, North Carolina is clamping down on indoor gatherings, reducing the limit from 25 to 10, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday.

"Our numbers are too high," he said during a news conference announcing the new executive order. "This reduction in our indoor gathering limit aims to slow the spread and bring down our numbers. It also sends a serious signal to families, friends and neighbors across our state."

The new executive order will be in effect from Friday, Nov. 13 through Friday, Dec. 4. The new limitations do not impact church or religious gatherings, but the principal still applies, Cooper said. Schools and universities will also not be affected by the order.

Globally, more than 51.6 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and more than 1.2 million people have died, Johns Hopkins University reported Wednesday. In the United States, more than 10.2 million people have been infected and nearly 240,000 people have died from COVID-19.