New NC COVID-19 cases dip again, but 7-day average remains around 1,200
The number of new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases dipped Wednesday to 952, according to data from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
The seven-day rolling average of new cases has remained around 1,200 for about a week, even as the range of new cases has been between 800 and 1,552 in the last week.
North Carolina has reported 196,501 cases since the first case was confirmed in March, but that number is likely an undercount because of limited testing early in the pandemic.
DHHS reported 30 lab-confirmed COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, bringing the total to 3,316 in North Carolina since the pandemic began.
Tuesday, North Carolina hospitals reported there were 912 people hospitalized with the virus, a figure based on 97% of the state’s hospitals reporting. The number of patients admitted who are suspected of having COVID-19 increased to 373.
DHHS reported that 5.1% of coronavirus tests were positive Monday, the most recent day for which data is reported. For the last week, the testing rate has hovered just above the 5% targeted by DHHS and other state officials.
The World Health Organization has said positive test rates should be below 5% for two weeks before states consider reopening.
This story was originally published September 23, 2020 at 2:31 PM with the headline "New NC COVID-19 cases dip again, but 7-day average remains around 1,200."