New daily COVID-19 cases jump above 2,600 in North Carolina

CHARLOTTE — North Carolina, like many other states across the country, continues to is see an uptick in COVID-19 cases.

On Wednesday, the state was reporting 2,633 new COVID-19 cases -- well above the daily average from recent weeks and the highest since late April.

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The percent positive in the state is currently at 10.8%, the second straight day it has been above 10%. Tuesday marked the first time the metric had risen above 10% since the end of January.

As of Wednesday, 1,091 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state. Tuesday and Wednesday marked the first days North Carolina has seen hospitalizations above 1,000 since May 7, and the number of patients hospitalized has doubled in the past two weeks.

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The percent of the adult population that has at least one dose of the vaccine in North Carolina stands at 61%.

North Carolina’s mask mandate ends on Friday. Channel 9 asked state health officials if the CDC’s guidance will change their recommendations and they responded that the NCDHHS will evaluate the new guidance.

Gov. Roy Cooper is scheduled to hold a COVID-19 briefing on Thursday afternoon.

“This virus is still here and, if you’re unvaccinated, still deadly,” Cooper tweeted on Tuesday. “Talking to our friends and family about getting a shot is the best way to stop the spread.”