WRAL Data Trackers Coverage

As new COVID-19 cases continue to rise, deaths in NC may lag behind
Despite a steady rise in new COVID-19 cases in North Carolina, the number of new deaths attributed to the disease has kept relatively steady in recent weeks. But public health experts say they don't expect that trend to last.

In search of protective gear, state officials turned to unlikely sources
Data shows that amid global shortages of personal protective equipment, North Carolina cast a wide net to source material from established companies, local manufactures and brand new brokers.

Data details how state reached wide for PPE stocks
Amid global shortages of lifesaving personal protective equipment, many of the state's purchases came from some unlikely sources.

Wake's case numbers high, but per capita better than others
With more than 4,300 people testing positive for the virus, Wake County has the second highest number of cases in the state. But when you look at population, the county compares favorable to some of its neighbors.

Wake has second most cases in NC, but fewer cases per capita than others
With more than 4,300 people testing positive for the virus, Wake County has the second highest number of cases in the state. But when you look at percentage of the population, it is still fairly low, accounting for about 40 people for every 10,000 who live in the county.

As COVID-19 patients increase, hospitals prepare for surge
Leaders at health systems around the state say a combination of better medical care and larger stockpiles of protective gear mean they can handle surges in COVID-19 patients more effectively today than they could three months ago. But those same leaders warn that the additional capacity still has a limit, and they worry for the health of North Carolina residents if current trends continue.

After weeks on the rise, NC mobility data shows slowdown in early June
Aggregated cell phone data shows mobility has flattened and decreased in North Carolina in early June. That's a reversal of a trend data analysts have seen since early April.

As pandemic continues, cases of COVID-19 shift to younger residents
Public health experts across the country say they're seeing the concentration of COVID-19 cases shift from older age groups to younger ones as the pandemic continues.

In Wake County, COVID-19 cases grow among younger residents
New data from Wake County shows the percentage of new COVID-19 cases has seen a slight shfit to younger demographics in recent weeks.

In Wake County, greatest number of COVID-19 cases come in 25-44 age group
Officials in many states have warned that more and more young people are testing positive for coronavirus.

Estimates show uneven stress on hospitals across the state from COVID-19
A group of public health experts say that although North Carolina hospitals are likely a long way off from running out of beds, a recent rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations has had an uneven impact across the state.

NC kept moving hundreds of inmates during pandemic. Experts say that increased risks
State records show North Carolina officials continued to transfer thousands of inmates as COVID-19 raced through the state's prisons -- actions that public health experts say raised the risk of spreading the virus.

How NC's COVID-19 curve compares
Public health experts have expressed concern over rising cases of COVID-19 in North Carolina. The upward trend of new cases in the state stands out nationally, according to an analysis by WRAL News.

Data shows less social distancing in North Carolina
Cases of COVID-19 continue to rise across North Carolina. But social distancing has been on the decline - even as state leaders debate when to move into the next phase of reopening.

CDC projections show NC COVID-19 death rate will increase in June
After hitting a grim milestone of 1,000 deaths in North Carolina due to COVID-19, CDC projections now forecast a sharp increase in the rate of deaths for North Carolina through the month of June.

Globe reaches 400K coronavirus deaths, 10% of NC coronavirus tests done this week are positive
Ten percent of the coronavirus tests done by the state have come back positive this week, according to the state's numbers. Saturday saw 1,300 new coronavirus cases -- another record high in positive tests for the state.

COVID-19 hospitalizations on the rise in N.C.
North Carolina has seen the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-10 break records twice in the past seven days alone. But hospital leaders say they're aren't worried yet.

COVID-19 outbreak details at meat packing plants limited as confirmed case numbers grow
DHHS officials say they're aware of more than 2,000 meatpacking workers who've tested positive for COVID-19. They've provided both the number of outbreaks and the counties where they've occurred. But for weeks, those officials have refused to name plants with reported outbreaks, noting that the agency lacks regulatory oversight over the facilities.

Don't judge NC's pandemic response by what's happening in nearby states, experts say
As North Carolina prepares for a scaled-back move on Friday into the second stage of a three-part plan to resume business and social activities during the coronavirus pandemic, other states are several steps ahead when it comes to returning to life as close to normal as possible.