NC Reports Grim Record: 6,495 New COVID-19 Cases In A Day

DAVIDSON, NC — North Carolina reported 6,495 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, a new record that also upped the state's tally of COVID-19 cases to 410,527. The rise in cases increases the percentage of positive cases in the state to 11.7 percent, according to North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services data.

As of Dec. 9, coronavirus had claimed the lives of at least 5,661 North Carolinians, of which 56 died from COVID-19 since Tuesday.

Mecklenburg County Public Health reported that as of Dec. 8, the county's tally included 47,330 cases and 477 COVID-19 deaths. In the past week, about 11 percent of those tested in the county were positive for coronavirus and an average of 242 people were hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 infections.

In Davidson, at least 624 cases were confirmed and seven deaths reported as of Dec. 9, according to DHHS data. The tally represents an increase of at least 68 confirmed cases in a week.

Statewide hospitalizations also rose to a new high Wednesday. According to DHHS data, at least 2,440 patients sought medical treatment for coronavirus illness, an increase of 67 patients reported since Tuesday.

SEE ALSO: Gov. Cooper Issues New Modified Stay-At-Home for North Carolina

Supply of staffed hospital beds were also growing thin in the 13 counties that comprise the Charlotte metro region, according to data. As of Wednesday, about 88 percent of the regional staffed intensive care unit beds were full, leaving 53 empty staffed ICU beds, according to DHHS. About 82 percent of the region's staffed inpatient hospital beds were full, leaving 854 staffed beds available.

North Carolina hospitals are "feeling the strain" of coronavirus spread, DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen said Tuesday during a news conference. "We are setting records both for people hospitalized for COVID-19 and the number of people in the intensive care unit," she said.

The numbers are expected to go higher soon because the recent jump in cases likely do not yet reflect the total impact of Thanksgiving gatherings, Cohen added.

Pointing to the surge in cases, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday that the state would be reverting to a "modified stay-at-home" later this week.

The new executive order, which goes into effect Friday, Dec. 11, orders residents to stay in their homes between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., and takes aim at social gatherings going into the holiday season.

"It means just what it says: people are to stay at home between those hours," Cooper said.

The order will be in effect until Jan. 8, 2021.

Under the new modified stay-at-home order:

• Businesses, restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, personal care businesses and most retail stores will be required to close by 10 p.m.
• Retail stores exempt from the 10 p.m. closures include those that sell groceries, medication, health care supplies and fuel.
• All onsite alcohol sales must end by 9 p.m.
• Capacity limitations on certain businesses, as well as limits of no more than 10 gathered indoors and 50 gathered outdoors will be extended through Jan. 8, 2021.
• Workers are recommended to work from home whenever possible.
• Face coverings continue to be required in all public indoor settings

SEE ALSO:

• Most In NC Will Seek Coronavirus Vaccine: Survey Results
• Coronavirus Spread In Mecklenburg: See Your Risk Of Exposure
• Here's The Estimated COVID-19 Vaccine Wait Time In Mecklenburg