RALEIGH, N.C. — Deaths from COVID-19 reached 20,000 people in North Carolina on Tuesday, a dark benchmark in the ongoing pandemic.
The milestone comes less than a year after the state hit the 10,000 mark, which happened in February.
The state Department of Health and Human Services reported more than 100,000 new cases over the holiday weekend, bringing the running total to more than 2.1 million since the pandemic’s beginning.
Hospitalizations also hit a record-breaking high Tuesday as the omicron variant continues its spread.
After a week of steep rises in patients, that figure now stands at 4,630 people statewide.
The rate of positive COVID-19 tests is now 33.3%, more than six times the state’s goal.
Last week, DHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley tweeted about burnout among health care workers, adding, “We can all support them by getting vaxed, boosted, and wearing a tight fitting mask.”
And more than two dozen health systems and hospitals put out a joint statement, warning, “Your personal decisions about how to coexist with the virus directly affect the health and well-being of your family and community.”
To date, 70% of North Carolina adults 18 and older have received two doses of vaccine or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson. Overall, the state’s vaccination rate stands at 59%.
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