Newest COVID-19 data: Cases increase for 6th straight week

WRAL News on Wednesday received the latest data for COVID-19 and flu in the area.

Data indicates COVID-19 particles found in wastewater were up for the fifth straight week, up 27 percent week-to-week. Emergency room visits for COVID-19 symptoms are also up from a week ago.

Cases reported to the state are up for the sixth straight week; however, they're six times lower than this time one year ago. Hospital admissions also increased from the previous week to 1,585, up over 500 cases from the week before.

As of Tuesday, WakeMed is reporting 50 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID across WakeMed's 970-bed system. Eight of those 50 patients are in the ICU. As for flu, WakeMed has reported 275 positive flu cases and nine flu-related hospital admissions. WRAL has not received information regarding RSV from WakeMed.

COVID numbers are continuing to surge across the UNC Health system. There are 320 hospitalizations for patients who are COVID positive, up from 80 in mid-November. UNC Health officials are expecting this week and next will give them a better idea about what they'll expect in the next month or two.

UNC Hospitals confirmed they have about 85 confirmed flu cases, falling from levels last week. They also confirmed they have 34 RSV cases.

UNC Rex Hospitals for the month of December saw a total of 965 flu cases. While its a big jump from what was seen in Dec. 2021, the volume started to taper off towards the end of the month.

Duke reported 706 confirmed cases of COVID through PHE surveillance data. Duke reported 34 lab-confirmed test flu PCR cases, compared to 81 the previous week, and 32 cases of RSV.

Testing sites in Wake County have already gotten busier this week.

Lines have already been forming again at testing sites around Wake County, and doctors said Wednesday's new update will be a snapshot of the effects of the holiday season.

The new data will also help hospitals prepare for the weeks ahead. Throughout the pandemic, it's about 10 days after gatherings that we’ve seen cases increase, followed by hospitalizations.