Raleigh, North Carolina (WNCN) — North Carolina’s leading COVID-19 count rose for the third straight week, three of which reached three-month highs.
New cases rose 22{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} last week and hospitalizations rose 17{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c}, according to the final weekly update for 2022 from the state Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday.
According to the agency, no new figures will be released on December 28th due to the winter holidays, and the next update is scheduled for January 4th.
The number of virus particles in wastewater increased by 12.5{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c}. None of those three numbers he’s been this high since late September are the latest signs that a surge from the Thanksgiving gathering may be underway.
Three omicron variants accounted for at least 15{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} of samples sequenced by labs statewide between November 27 and December 10, with the new BQ1.1 strain accounting for 36{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} and the BA.5 variant. continued until last week. , at 22{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c}, was the dominant variant in the state for several months.
State officials reported another one-point increase in the proportion of vaccinees receiving a new booster specifically targeting the Omicron variant, rising to 19{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c}.
NCDHHS reported 16,373 new cases during the week of December 11-17. Over 13,000 in the previous week It’s the highest since the week of September 24th, when it surpassed 19,000.
The state is averaging more than 2,300 new cases per day, also the highest since September 24.
A total of 843 people were admitted to hospitals statewide with COVID last week, up from 722 a week ago and topping 800 for the first time since the week ending Oct. 1, according to NCDHHS.
Officials also counted an average of 17.7 million virus particles per person in wastewater, up from 15.2 million the previous week.
It also said 4.9{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} of emergency room visits last week were for COVID-like symptoms, up from 4.6{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} the week before.
The state death toll rose to 27,629 after 49 more deaths were counted, according to NCDHHS.
of CBS17 Jordy McCreary has been tracking COVID-19 figures since March 2020, compiling data from federal, state, and local sources to provide a clear picture of the current and future coronavirus situation. increase.
