North Carolina's COVID-19 Count Surpasses 142,000 Mark

NORTH CAROLINA — The number of known cases of COVID-19 in North Carolina increased by 1,346 Friday, upping the state's total to 142,170, according to data released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The state's coronavirus death toll rose by 26 Friday, upping the number of lives lost to COVID-19 in North Carolina to 2,313.

According to DHHS data reported Friday, 6 percent of tests in North Carolina were positive, down from about 8 percent reported Aug. 4.

Hospitalizations dipped slightly throughout the state this week, according to DHHS data. As of Friday, 1,049 patients were hospitalized with coronavirus-related illness in North Carolina, 21 fewer than reported Thursday.

An Aug. 14 survey of 90 percent of the state's hospitals reported that there were 4,980 empty staffed inpatient hospital beds and 509 empty staffed intensive care unit beds remaining in the state. Ventilators also remained in supply, according to the survey, with 2,350 remaining available, DHHS said.

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Coronavirus trends are stabilizing, according to the state's top public health official.

The number of COVID-like syndromic cases showing up in patients seeking care in emergency rooms and the number of lab-confirmed cases — while still high, are both starting to decline, as is the percent of positive tests and hospitalizations, DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen said Thursday.

"This progress is fragile," Cohen said. "As our colleges and universities bring students back to campus and our K-12 public schools kick off the school year, we will face a new test. More people will be in close contact and moving around in our communities and that means the potential for viral spread."

Law enforcement agencies across North Carolina and on college campuses are being directed to enforce the state's face covering order and limits on large gatherings, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said Thursday.

"While no one wants violations to end in arrests, it’s important for the health and safety of our communities that we all do our part," Cooper said.

"We've already seen the numbers, the correlation in flattening things out and stabilizing and even seeing a beginning of a decline. We know that's related to face mask wearing and social distancing, so we want law enforcement to be more involved in this process," he added.

Enforcement would begin with attempts to educate businesses and people about state's mask mandate, North Carolina Department of Public Safety Secretary Erik Hooks said. "We're not asking people to go out and arrest people," Hook said. "We're asking that if you have to take enforcement action, there are mechanisms available to you, such as a citation."

Globally, nearly 21 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and more than 760,000 people have died, Johns Hopkins University reported Friday afternoon. In the United States, more than 5.2 million people have been infected and more than 167,000 people have died from COVID-19.

SEE ALSO:

• 'We're Making Progress,' COVID-19 Stabilizing In NC: Gov. Cooper
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• How Coronavirus Affects North Carolina Kids: 5 Things To Know