29 Deaths, More Than 2K New COVID-19 Cases In North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA — North Carolina public health officials reported 151,912 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state Friday, 2,008 more than were reported the day before. The increase marked the largest day-over-day increase reported since lat July, according to data released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The state's coronavirus death toll rose by 29 Friday, increasing the number of lives lost to the virus in the state to 2,494.

According to DHHS data reported Friday, about 8 percent of tests in North Carolina were positive.

Hospitalizations throughout the state dipped slightly Friday, to 1,015 patients seeking treatment for COVID-19, eight fewer than reported Thursday.

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An Aug. 21 survey of 90 percent of the state's hospitals reported that there were 5,797 empty staffed inpatient hospital beds and 570 empty staffed intensive care unit beds remaining in the state. Ventilators also remained in supply, according to the survey, with 2,352 remaining available, DHHS said.

As of Friday, 246 positive COVID-19 confirmations were associated with ongoing outbreaks and clusters at 21 child care facilities and one school in North Carolina.

Globally, nearly 23 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and more than 796,000 people have died, Johns Hopkins University reported Friday afternoon. In the United States, more than 5.6 million people have been infected and more than 175,000 people have died from COVID-19.

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