New record: NC reports 2,908 new cases of coronavirus
North Carolina set another record Friday, recording almost 3,000 new cases of the coronavirus. The 2,908 cases reported in a single day is more than 600 cases more than the recent seven-day rolling average.
The surge in cases is taking place across the country, too, especially in the South and Midwest. Arizona, Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, Texas, South Carolina, Nevada, Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa and Georgia all report positive test rates over 10%.
North Carolina, which has performed almost 3 million tests over the course of the pandemic, has about a 7% positive rate. That means more than 285,000 people in North Carolina have tested positive.
While most show minor or no symptoms, 4,548 people have died of COVID-19 in the Tar Heel State.
On Thursday afternoon, Gov. Roy Cooper warned that, since he allowed the reopening of movie theaters, reception halls and bars at limited capacity, the state has seen a spike in cases.
"We can get control of this virus if people come together, wear a mask and social distance," he said.
Health experts have said this month that the real threat is not large crowds, but smaller, intimate gatherings.
"I'm concerned that our numbers will trend even higher as people gather for the holidays," said Dr. Mandy Cohen, state secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. "If you do decide to host a holiday gathering, we can't eliminate risk, but we can minimize it."
Cohen suggested clustering family members from the same household at the same table, cleaning and disinfecting common surfaces and wearing a mask at all times except for when eating.
She added that anyone considering traveling for the holidays should get a coronavirus screening test beforehand.
"It is by no means perfect. It can catch some people who have the virus but aren't showing symptoms," explained Cohen. "Think about getting a test before traveling or getting together. If you test negative, you're not clear, [you] still need to wear a mask. "
Contact tracing shows that the majority of cases are connected through close contact where people are not wearing a mask or practicing social distancing, said Dr. Emily Sickbert-Bennett, the director of infection prevention at the University of North Carolina Medical Center.
Additional guidance on how to safely celebrate Thanksgiving and other upcoming holiday gatherings is expected next week.
