By WECT Staff | January 2, 2021 at 12:51 PM EST – Updated January 2 at 12:51 PM
NORTH CAROLINA (WECT) – The new year is off to a rough start in North Carolina in terms of COVID-19 numbers according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
“On Jan. 1, 2021, North Carolina reported its highest one-day number of COVID-19 cases with 9,527 new cases reported, exceeding the state’s previous highest day set on Dec. 18, 2020 by more than 1,000. Cases remained high today, Jan. 2, with 9,356 new cases reported,” according to NCDHHS.
New cases are not the only record setting statistic though, percent positives and hospitalizations are also on the rise.
“Records were also set for the percent of tests that were positive and hospitalizations. On Jan. 2,15.5 percent of tests were positive, the highest rate since the start of the pandemic. In addition, 3,479 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 and 783 people were in the intensive care unit,” according to the state.
The numbers are causing concern for state officials who say we are at a dangerous point in the pandemic.
“We begin 2021 in our most dangerous position in this pandemic. We have critically high rates of spread in much of our state,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. “I encourage you to avoid getting together indoors with anyone who doesn’t live with you. If you plan to see other people keep it outside and very small. Wear a mask the whole time. We must do all that we can to protect one another.”
Nationally, the government is issuing new warnings to residents.
“Earlier this week, the White House Coronavirus Task Force issued stark warnings to North Carolinians, including:
- If you are under 40 and you gathered beyond your immediate household, you need to assume you became infected with COVID-19 even if you don’t have any symptoms. You are dangerous to others and must isolate away from anyone at increased risk for severe disease and get tested.
- If you are over 65 or if you have significant health conditions, you should not enter any indoor public spaces where anyone is unmasked and you should have groceries and medications delivered.”
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