NC wastewater data shows increase in COVID, yet hospitalizations remain low

North Carolina found more than double the amount of coronavirus in its wastewater this week when compared to last week, even though the state only saw a 24% increase in new cases.

Posted 5:21 p.m. Apr 27, 2022 — Updated 8:39 p.m. Apr 27, 2022

Maggie Brown

, WRAL multiplatform producer

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina found more than double the amount of coronavirus in its wastewater last week when compared to week before, even though the state only saw a 24% increase in new cases.

That means that more people are sick with COVID-19 than testing shows. Fewer people are getting tested for coronavirus and at-home coronavirus test are not required to be reported to the state.

"You have to concede the numbers are a significant underestimate of the actual burden of COVID-19 in the community," said Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease expert with Duke University, on April 21.

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The amount of viral particles appearing in the state's wastewater is relatively low when compared to the virus' peak this past winter. About 11.3 million COVID-19 particles were found in the state's wastewater from April 17 to April 23, while 106 million particles were found in the week ending on Jan. 19.

Zack Moore, epidemiologist with the state Department of Health and Human Services, said that North Carolina is in a much better place than it was. The state has tools at its disposal it didn't have at the beginning of the pandemic, including vaccinations and anti-viral treatment.

"It's important to keep an eye on what's happening in the pandemic in North Carolina," Moore said.

People will need to ramp-up their personal protection if cases continue to increase, he said.

Though cases are slowly increasing, the number of people hospitalized with the virus remains low, according to data from the state DHHS . Fewer people were admitted to hospitals with COVID last week when compared to the week before.

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Across the state, less than 300 people were hospitalized with the virus last week, state data shows. Only nine people died with COVID-19 last week, which is the lowest number of deaths reported in months.

Most cases across North Carolina are a subvariant of omicron named BA.2, according to DHHS data. Duke University health experts said in a forum last week that this variant is not likely to increase in severity or evade vaccines.

While cases are increasing, the amount of community risk in North Carolina remains low, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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