As virus cases surge in NC, more people winding up in ICUs

The state reported four straight days of more than 1,000 new cases, topped by Saturday's 1,163, which was the highest single-day figure since May 20, state Department of Health and Human Services data show.

On Monday, 734 cases were reported, bringing the total since Friday to 2,950.

North Carolina Coronavirus dashboard - Maps, charts and data

The recent spike has pushed the daily average of new cases to 933, which is a 77 percent jump from a week ago. Still, it's 89 percent below the daily average at the peak of the pandemic in January.

More than 600 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, the highest total since June 3, and nearly 30 percent of them are in intensive care.

Fifty-six percent of adults 18 or older in North Carolina are fully vaccinated against the virus, and another 3 percent have received one dose of the vaccine. But the state's vaccination rate ranks 37th nationally. Nationwide, 59 percent of people are fully vaccinated and 68 percent have had at least one dose.

Neither DHHS nor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are publishing statistics on how many new cases, hospitalizations or deaths are in unvaccinated people versus those who have been vaccinated. WRAL News continues to ask if they will add this information to their online dashboards.

Peace said she has become so irritated over people's hesitancy to get vaccinated that she had to take Monday off to cool down.

"I took a mental health day because I am emotionally exhausted," she said.

Vaccine hesitancy is spurring the surge in new infections, she said, and misinformation is only adding to the hesitancy.

"There is a 'digital virus' that is keeping people from taking advantage of these COVID vaccines," she said.

Even with the threat of a severe illness and possibly death, Peace said she's been unable to persuade some people to get vaccinated.

"For some of my patients that I have been seeing for years, I am unable to convince them to get the vaccine," she said. "They will say, 'I just don’t want it.'"

As cases go up and vaccination rates lag, measures to mitigate the spread of the virus are returning.

Los Angeles County in California reinstated its mask mandate, regardless of vaccination status, last week. Locally, the YMCA of the Triangle began doing temperature checks Monday to ensure a strong finish to the last five weeks of summer day camp.

Some WRAL News viewers called for a return of North Carolina's mask mandate if the caseloads continue to grow.

"I think, until everyone is vaccinated, that mask wearing should be mandatory," said Paula Leif, of Durham County.

"This is the only 100 percent safe way to stop aerosol spread of variants," said Davina Killingsworth, of Wake County. "How many more people have to die before everyone loses their proud arrogance and cooperates with masks?"

Others said masks infringe of people's liberty.

For her part, Peace has posted a video on her own social media accounts pleading with people to get their shots.

"What are you waiting for? Don’t wait," she said.