COVID hospitalizations in NC jump more than 80% in 2 weeks as cases surge

RALEIGH, N.C. — COVID-19 metrics continue to balloon in North Carolina.

In the past two weeks, 1,400 more patients have been hospitalized with the virus -- an increase of more than 80%. This comes as the state sets new record highs for the number of positive cases and daily percent positivity rate.

Wednesday’s data show 20,770 new reported cases with a 31.8% positivity rate.

Here’s where you can get a COVID-19 test in the Channel 9 viewing area

On Tuesday, Gov. Roy Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley warned that cases were surging across the state and that everybody needed to get vaccinated.

Health leaders said vaccinated people who catch COVID-19 experience less severe symptoms and rarely need to be hospitalized for treatment. However, people who are unvaccinated or have underlying medical conditions are at the highest risk of severe illness and hospitalization.

Pediatric hospitalizations have increased from 1% of all cases to 1.8% of all cases. These are children too young to be eligible to get vaccinated, according to the NCDHHS.

The new data comes as the demand for COVID-19 testing has skyrocketed after the 2021 holiday season. Channel 9 has seen lines that have stretched for hours at several Charlotte clinics while people have waited to be tested.

>> For information on where you can get a COVID test in the Channel 9 viewing area, click here.

(WATCH BELOW: Gaston County also seeing long COVID-19 testing lines)