COVID-19 Cases On The Rise In NC As Delta Variant Spreads

NORTH CAROLINA — The number of new COVID-19 cases in North Carolina rose by double digits last week, with hospitalizations not far behind, according to state health officials.

The news comes as the Delta variant — a variant of the coronavirus the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says spreads faster and comes with an increased risk of hospitalization — is rapidly spreading throughout our state.

During the week ending on July 3, new cases of COVID-19 rose by 12 percent in North Carolina, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday. Hospitalizations rose by 8 percent across the state in a span of seven days.

State health officials are also finding proof of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in wastewater. Earlier this year, DHHS began testing wastewater samples at 11 treatment facilities around the state in a bid to measure shed viral particles found in the feces of those infected with COVID-19.

Preliminary data trends from the testing program show results are similar for individual COVID test results in the communities, DHHS said. However, the method of monitoring community spread trends comes with limitations. About 40 percent of North Carolinians use septic tanks for their wastewater.

As of Thursday, increases in viral COVID-19 particles were found in wastewater in Raleigh, New Hanover County, South Durham and Wilmington, DHHS said.

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According to state public health officials, virtually all — 99 percent — of new COVID-19 cases reported in the state since May have occurred in people who had not been fully vaccinated.

As of Thursday, at least 56 percent of adults in North Carolina had received at least one dose of vaccine, and 53 percent of adults were fully vaccinated, according to DHHS.

“Vaccines remain the best protection against COVID-19, including against the Delta variant,” state Epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore said in a statement. “Nationwide, more than 50% of new cases are now caused by the Delta variant, and the number of Delta variant cases is rapidly increasing in North Carolina.”

On Thursday, the state reported 630 new cases of COVID-19 in the state, with a daily percent positive rate of 3.4 percent. At least 410 patients were hospitalized in North Carolina for COVID-19 related illness.