By CBS 17 Digital Desk | November 11, 2020 at 12:16 PM EST – Updated November 11 at 5:20 PM
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – North Carolina set a new record for new daily COVID-19 cases on Wednesday.
A total of 3,119 new lab-confirmed cases of the disease were reported by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
This is the first time North Carolina has recorded more than 3,000 new cases in a single day.
The previous record was 2,908 reported on Nov. 6.
“This is not the milestone we want to be hitting, particularly as we head into holidays where people want to come together. I am asking North Carolinians to do what they do best, look out for each other,” said NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy K. Cohen. “Wear a mask. Wait six feet apart. Wash your hands often. We’ve had more time to learn about this devastating virus and study after study shows that these three simple actions can help keep our family, friends and neighbors from getting sick.”
The new cases put North Carolina over the 300,000 mark in terms of total cases. The state has 300,561 cases since the start of the pandemic.
The daily percent positive percentage increased to 7.9 percent from 7.5 on Tuesday – its highest level in more than a month.
The percent positive rate was last this high on Oct. 4, when it was also at 7.9 percent.
Hospitalizations also increased on Wednesday. A total of 1,246 patients are currently hospitalized with the virus.
NCDHHS said 4,698 deaths are being attributed to the virus.
“People who have been recently diagnosed with COVID-19, have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been around a person with COVID-19, should not host or participate in any in-person gatherings until they complete their isolation or quarantine period,” NCDHHS said in a release.
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