Monday numbers: COVID cases skyrocket in NC while vaccine rollout lags

It’s Monday, Jan 11. At least 7,425 North Carolinians did not see the sunrise today after dying of COVID-19.

The number of cases and deaths is growing, as the state grapples with record-high daily new cases, a shortage of hospital beds and a slow vaccine rollout.

“In the ten months that we have been fighting this pandemic, this is the most worried that I have been for our state,” state Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen said last Friday at a press conference.

We take you for a closer look at the data and reflect on the people behind these figures.

Coronavirus cases and deaths

10,000+ – North Carolina recorded daily increases of 10,000+ three days in a row.

7,498,343 – Total number of tests

13.7% – Positive test rate, or 623,188 cases

2,714 – Cases in nursing homes account for the largest share of deaths statewide. Congregate settings, like residential care facilities and correctional facilities, have been hotbeds of outbreaks and deaths because of the close quarters and the difficulty of treating patients and social distancing.

84 – Number of counties now showing critical community spread. Twelve have substantial spread. Four counties have significant community spread.

Hospitalizations

3,871 – Number of COVID patients currently hospitalized 

84.85% – Rate of staffed ICU beds that are occupied

75.85% – Rate of staffed inpatient beds that are occupied

43.4% – Highest rate of hospital beds occupied by COVID patients, which is occurring in Caldwell County.

88.63% – Percentage of ICU beds occupied by COVID patients, Caldwell County

Vaccination status

1.7% – State vaccine administration rate as of Jan. 9

6.2% – State vaccine distribution rate as of Jan. 9

Sources: N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services via the COVID-19 Hospitalization Tracking Project