NC's Daily Count Of COVID-19 Cases Plunges To 626

NORTH CAROLINA — North Carolina reported 626 newly confirmed coronavirus cases Monday, one of the lowest day-over-day increases recorded in more than a month, according to data released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. As of Monday, North Carolina labs had processed more than 2 million tests throughout the state.

The addition of confirmed cases increased the state's overall tally of COVID-19 cases to 136,844. According to DHHS data reported Monday, 5 percent of testing overall in North Carolina was positive, down from 8 percent positivity reported Friday.

Four deaths were reported since Sunday, increasing the coronavirus death toll in North Carolina to 2,172, DHHS said.

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Hospitalizations remained level over the weekend. As of Monday, 1,111 patients were hospitalized with coronavirus-related illness in North Carolina, 12 fewer than reported Friday, Aug. 7. Of those hospitalized, 362 were suspected COVID-19 patients admitted since Sunday, according to DHHS data.

An Aug. 10 survey of 80 percent of the state's hospitals reported that there were 6,058 empty staffed inpatient hospital beds and 617 empty staffed intensive care unit beds remaining in the state. Ventilators also remained in supply, according to the survey, with about 2,345 remaining available, DHHS said.

Globally, nearly 20 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and more than 732,000 people have died, Johns Hopkins University reported Monday. In the United States, more than 5 million people have been infected and more than 163,000 people have died from COVID-19.

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