North Carolina COVID-19 Case Tally Surges To More Than 191K

NORTH CAROLINA — Labs in North Carolina reported 1,443 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 throughout the state Friday. The new cases increased the state's tally of known coronavirus cases to 191,019, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said.

At least 27 COVID-19 deaths were reported since Thursday, increasing the state's coronavirus death toll to 3,207.

About five percent of tests in North Carolina were positive Friday, DHHS data showed.

Hospitalizations rose overnight to 904 patients hospitalized for COVID-like symptoms, 10 more than reported Thursday. A Sept. 18 survey of 94 percent of the state's hospitals reported that there were 5,140 empty staffed inpatient hospital beds and 555 empty staffed intensive care unit beds remaining in the state. Ventilators also remained in supply, according to the survey, with 2,287 available, DHHS said.

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Gov. Roy Cooper announced Thursday that schools around the state will soon be allowed the option to switch to "Plan A" instruction, which reduces social distancing requirements in classrooms. The plan allows more students back into classrooms at one time and retains the list of health and safety protocols, such as temperature checks and mandatory mask use inside school buildings. It will not, however, apply to students in grades 6-12. Those older students must still receive instruction through either a hybrid in-person plan that allows reduced capacity in buildings at one time, or by full-remote learning.

The new guidelines go into effect Monday, Oct. 5.

As of Friday, there were nine COVID-19 clusters reported in North Carolina schools and 13 active clusters at child care centers. DHHS defines a cluster as five or more lab-confirmed cases that are linked. As of Sept. 18, there were at least 48 positive COVID-19 cases associated with school clusters and at least 334 positive cases associated with child care centers.

Globally, more than 30 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and nearly 947,000 people have died, Johns Hopkins University reported Friday. In the United States, nearly 6.7 million people have been infected and more than 198,000 people have died from COVID-19.

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