>>> NINE MONTHS, IT HAS BEEN NINE MONTHS TO THE DAY SINCE NORTH CAROLINA CONFIRMED ITS FIRST CASE OF CORONAVIRUS. FAST FORWARD TO DECEMBER AND OUR STATE HEALTH LEADERS ARE CONFIRMING MORE THAN 5600 CASES IN A SINGLE DAY. >> THE DIFFERENCE IS JARRING AND CONCERNING ESPECIALLY AS WE TRACK NEW RECORD CASES AND LOSSES. IT'S NOT JUST THAT 5600 MORE PEOPLE TESTED POSITIVE TODAY, THAT NUMBER IS 25 PERCENT OR MORE THAN THE THOUSAND CASES HIGHER THAN WE HAVE EVER SEEN. MORE THAN 2100 PEOPLE ARE IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW FIGHTING COVID-19 AND BEDS ARE FILLING UP ACROSS THE STATE UP SEVEN PERCENT SINCE MONDAY AND THEN THERE IS THIS. ABOUT ONE IN 4 PEOPLE IS HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19 IN THE ICU RIGHT NOW. >>> TODAY GOVERNOR ROY COOPER CALLED THOSE NUMBERS DEEPLY CONCERNING, HE WAS IN PITTSBURGH DURING A MANUFACTURING PLANT THAT CREATES PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT USED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19. WE SPOKE WITH THE GOVERNOR TODAY ABOUT THE LATEST NUMBERS IN NORTH CAROLINA AND WE ARE JOINT LIFE FROM THE PLANT. >> Reporter: WHEN THE PANDEMIC HITS, VALERO SWITCH TO MAKING PPE INCLUDING THINGS LIKE FACE SHIELDS, IMPORTANT PRODUCTS EVEN TODAY CONSIDERING THE RECORD NUMBER OF CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS. >> THIS DEVICE IS A PRODUCT THAT WILL SAFEGUARD CLINICIANS AND LOVED ONES FROM SICK PATIENTS WHO ARE SHEDDING THE VIRUS. >> Reporter: GOVERNOR ROY COOPER IS PROUD OF THE WORK BEING DONE IN THE STATE. >> NOT ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA, BUT ACROSS THE NATION. >> Reporter: HE SPENT PART OF HIS AFTERNOON TOURING VALERO AND MAKING UP FACE SHIELDS. ALL THE EFFORT FROM BUSINESSES, HOSPITALS, AND INDIVIDUALS:>> THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS. >> TODAY THERE ARE MORE THAN 5600 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 AND 2100 HOSPITALIZATIONS. >> WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE NUMBERS. >> Reporter: COOPER IS WORRIED ABOUT INCREASED STRAIN ON HOSPITAL WORKERS ADDING THAT THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MEETS FREQUENTLY WITH HOSPITAL CEOs. >> THEY ARE MANAGING THIS AND THERE HAVE BEEN ADVANCEMENTS IN TREATMENTS AND THERAPEUTICS THAT SHORTEN THE TIME THAT PEOPLE ARE IN THE HOSPITAL AND KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE ICU. >> Reporter: WHEN IT COMES TO OVERALL CASE COUNT, COOPER SAYS MORE COOPERATION IS NEEDED. >> WE NEED TO WORK HARD, PARTICULARLY NOW DURING THESE WINTER MONTHS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BEGIN TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF THANKSGIVING SOON AND WE HOPE PEOPLE ARE SMART AND RESPONSIBLE OVER THE HOLIDAYS. >> Reporter: ADDING THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL THINKING ABOUT HOSTING OR ATTENDING LARGE GATHERINGS SHOULD CANCEL THOSE PLANS AND GET TESTED BEFORE SEEING ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS. IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS, THAT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN JUST YET, BUT GOVERNOR COOPER DID TELL ME THAT EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE FOR THE FUTURE, TELLING ME THAT HE IS TAKING THINGS DAY BY DAY