Declining coronavirus cases create change inside hospitals

The state Department of Health and Human Services also reported that fewer than 800 people were hospitalized with the virus on Thursday, and the percent positive cases is down to 3.3 percent.

Optimism is growing as the numbers continue to go down, while the decline is also creating changes inside local hospitals.

"It's exciting. I would like for people not to die, you know," said Dr. Linda Butler, UNC Rex Health's chief medical officer.

COVID-19 cases haven't been below 1,000 since June 5, 2020.

"We are excited at the hospital that numbers are going down," said Butler.

The drop in numbers has created changes in elective surgeries, which were tabled at the height of the pandemic.

"We are back to our pre-COVID numbers, where we are accommodating all of our surgical procedures," said Dr. Chris DeRienzo, WakeMed's chief medical officer.

With fewer people hospitalized with the virus, that's freed up valuable space behind the walls of WakeMed and UNC Rex.

North Carolina Coronavirus dashboard - Maps, charts and data

"As we've cared for fewer COVID patients, we've now shrunk those units back down," said DeRienzo. "Those areas that had COVID patients can now care for more patients with other community health needs."

Health care workers said the plunging numbers mean the stress on hospitals is beginning to ease.

"If you look across the tremendous pressure of the last 15 months, it's beginning to release as we begin looking at this post-pandemic future," said DeRienzo.

While health care workers may be getting a break from the COVID-19 unit, people who put off their health concerns during the pandemic are starting to show up.

"I think some of it is care that has been delayed, [and] some of it is growth of people moving into the area," said Butler.