Highway Patrol cadets among latest surge in virus cases in NC

The news that 37 of the 50 cadets who graduated from the training academy on Friday were infected, along with two members of the training staff, comes as North Carolina once again shattered its one-day record new cases. The 8,444 cases topped the previous record, set a week ago, by more than 900.

"I am very worried for our state. Everyone must act right now to protect each other," Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement. "Do not wait until it’s you or your loved sick with COVID-19 to wear a mask, wait apart from others and wash your hands often. Do not wait until it’s you or your loved one alone in a hospital bed. Do not wait until you’ve lost a loved one to this pandemic. Take personal responsibility for you, your loved ones and your community now."

North Carolina has added nearly 43,000 infections to its caseload over the past week, making it the highest one-week total during the pandemic. By comparison, it took more than 14 weeks at the beginning of the pandemic – March 3 to June 13 – to record that many infections statewide.

The rolling, seven-day average has 6,069 new cases each day over the last week.

North Carolina Coronavirus dashboard - Maps, charts and data

North Carolina also set another record with 2,864 people hospitalized across the state with the virus. Hospitals are at 78 percent capacity, with only 17 percent of intensive care beds available, according to state figures.

Sixty more virus-related deaths were reported Friday, which was down following two record days. But the seven-day average of coronavirus deaths, at 53 per day over the last week, is at an all-time high.

Over the last week, the state has averaged an 11.5 percent positive rate on coronavirus tests – it was 10.5 percent on Friday – which is more than double the state's target rate of 5 percent or lower.

The trend lines don't worry some people intent on traveling over the holidays.

“I think we are at the mercy of others, and everybody just needs to take responsibility,” said one man flying out of Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Friday for a vacation in Colorado.

Hannah Bergeron, who hasn't flown since the pandemic began but is now heading to Hawaii with the Navy, was more concerned.

"It’s terrifying. I mean, this whole thing is a lot. None of us have ever experienced this before," Bergeron said. “All I can do is practice social distancing, wear my mask, that’s it. I can’t control other people’s actions."

Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease expert with Duke University Health System, said the problem isn't with planes but with interaction with others.

"Even if you have done a really good job with maintaining a little tight family bubble here, if you are going to travel and move your bubble somewhere else and interplay with a whole lot of other people, that’s the issue," Wolfe said.

Wolfe and state health officials have asked people not to travel for the holidays but said, if they do, they should get tested for coronavirus before leaving and when they return. People also should be tested if they plan to spend time at home with someone who isn't in their household, officials said.

The man headed to Colorado said he didn't get tested, adding, “I think, if I were symptomatic, I would."

Wolfe said everyone should re-evaluate their holiday plans, given the sharp increase in infections since Thanksgiving.

"You have a week to reconsider those plans. This is the worst point we have had in the pandemic so far,” he said. "We are bracing for a very tough January.”