While the numbers are still high and concerning, North Carolina has reported fewer new COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations, which could indicate that our post-holiday spike is subsiding.
DO DECIDE TO CANCEL IN-PERSON EVENTS. THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST ISSUED A STATEMENT ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO TAKE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. TODAY, OUR COVID-19 METRICS DROP ACROSS-THE-BOARD. WE LEARNED OF 6800 NEW CASES STATEWIDE, THAT IS LOWER THAN THE LAST THREE DAYS. NORTH CAROLINA REPORTS 67 NEW DEATHS IN THE LAST DAY. AS WE GET CLOSER TO 9000 DEATHS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN. AS FOR PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED, THAT HIT THE LOWEST POINT IN THE LAST FIVE DAYS, WITH 3862 PEOPLE BEING TREATED. THOSE LOWER NUMBERS COULD MEAN WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WRAL ASKED THE EXPERTS ABOUT THAT. DOES THIS MEAN THAT THE POST HOLIDAY SPIKE IS FINALLY DOWN? >> Reporter: WE DID ASK THE DOCTORS THAT QUESTION, AND WE LEARNED THAT WHILE IT IS GOOD TO BE POSITIVE, THE TRUTH IS, RIGHT NOW, IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL WHAT EXACTLY THESE NEW LOWER NUMBERS REALLY MEAN. >> Reporter: ALL OF THE COVID- 19 NUMBERS HEALTH OFFICIALS ANXIOUSLY MONITOR ARE FINALLY COMING DOWN AFTER CLIMBING FOR DAYS AND IN SOME CASES, WEEKS. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAILY CASES IS THE LOWEST IT HAS BEEN SINCE JANUARY 5th, WITH JUST OVER 7300. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TESTING POSITIVE, SITTING AT 10%, IS THE LOWEST IT HAS BEEN SINCE DECEMBER, 23rd. WHILE THE NUMBERS DROPPING COULD MEAN WE ARE PAST A POST HOLIDAY SPIKE, DOCTORS SAY THERE IS A LOT TO CONSIDER. >> WHAT IS THE CAUSE? IS IT JUST BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING THE CONSEQUENCES OF BEING TOGETHER IN THE HOLIDAY TIMEFRAME NOW BEING REFLECTED, AND WE ARE COMING DOWN? WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE? IT IS REALLY HARD TO PREDICT. THERE ARE A LOT OF VARIABLES TO CONSIDER. >> Reporter: THE DOCTOR IS UNC'S VICE CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. HE SAYS TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF TODAY'S NUMBERS WE NEED TO WAIT ANOTHER WEEK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS OVER THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS. HE ALSO SAYS NUMBERS, ESPECIALLY HOSPITALIZATION RATES ARE STILL TOO HIGH FOR COMFORT. >> YOU KNOW, IF I REFLECT BACK TO WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS OUR PEAK IN JULY OF THIS PAST YEAR, WE ARE MORE THAN DOUBLED AS NUMBERS. SO, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL. >> Reporter: WHEN IT COMES TO THE PUSH TO VACCINATE, ACROSS UNC HEALTH, THEY NOW HAVE MORE THAN 10,000 APPOINTMENTS SCHEDULED FOR THIS UPCOMING WEEK. ALL BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO OUR STATES LATEST NUMBERS, SO FAR NORTH CAROLINA HAS CONDUCTED MORE THAN 8 MILLION COVID-19 TESTS. IT IS A BIG NUMBER, BUT COMING UP TONIGHT AT 10:00 P.M., WHILE WE CAN STILL DO BETTER.
