1K New Cases As NC COVID-19 Death Tally Reaches 1,290

CHARLOTTE, NC — North Carolina confirmed more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases and 19 deaths from COVID-19 illness, state public health officials announced Thursday. The news comes one day after Gov. Roy Cooper announced a slow down of reopening the state and a new mandate requiring face coverings in public.

North Carolina reported 1,009 cases of novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, were confirmed in labs around the state since Wednesday, increasing the state's tally to more than 57,000 cases, according to the latest data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Hospitalizations dropped by 15 patients since Wednesday, however the state's COVID-19 death count rose by 19, for a total of 1,290 lives lost to the virus.

Hospital capacity remains available throughout the state, with three out of every four hospital beds occupied. That's according to a DHHS survey of about 90 percent of the state's hospitals, which showed 22 percent of inpatient hospital beds were available Thursday. Intensive Care Unit beds had slightly better availability, with 23 percent remaining available. Ventilator readiness, by contrast, was greater with only about 26 percent of the state's supply reportedly in use Thursday.

SEE ALSO: Masks Mandatory In NC, Phase 3 Reopening Delayed: Cooper

As of Thursday, labs had processed more than 811,000 tests, nearly 20,000 of which were processed since Wednesday, DHHS said.

COVID-19 outbreaks in congregate living facilities — such as nursing homes, residential care facilities and correctional facilities — rose by 21 cases to 7,516 confirmed cases Thursday. The case count represents about 13 percent of the total cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the state.

As of Thursday, 111 of the state's 409 nursing home facilities had a COVID-19 outbreak, three more than reported Wednesday. State health officials also reported ongoing outbreaks at 62 residential care facilities and 19 correctional facilities.

SEE ALSO: Mask Survey: 3 Out of 4 Say Masks Needed In NC COVID-19 Fight

Wednesday, Cooper called off the state progressing into the phase — Phase 3 — of reopening for at least three weeks. Phase 2 was originally set to expire Friday, June 26. The extension of Phase 2 will last until at least July 17.

"This is not where we planned to be, or wanted to be," he said at a news conference, calling the numbers "a stark warning."

Under the new mandate, face coverings will be required in public spaces, both indoor and outdoor, when socially distancing is difficult. The mandate also extends to employees and customers of retail businesses and restaurants. Workers in construction, meat processing, manufacturing and agricultural settings will also be required to wear face coverings.

There are, however, some exceptions to the mandate. Those exempt are children under 11, those with medical conditions, people at home and those exercising outside, he said.

The executive order that includes both the mask mandate and the Phase 2 extension goes into effect Friday at 5 p.m.

An informal survey of Patch 1,160 readers this week found that a majority support the use of face coverings as a collective means to slow the spread of coronavirus in North Carolina, and that mask use — or the lack thereof — is affecting personal decisions about where to spend money and how to socialize.

As of Thursday, 9 percent of all tests in North Carolina were positive. The World Health Organization recommends that governments have a percent positive rate of 5 percent or lower for at least 14 days before reopening.

Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates from health and government officials in North Carolina. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily.

RELATED:

• Concealed Carry Laws Do Not Prohibit COVID-19 Masks: Sheriff
  
• Charlotte Mayor Lobbies Governor For Statewide Mask Mandate
• COVID-19 Cases Spike In NC, All Prison Inmates To Be Tested