Record number of North Carolinians hospitalized with COVID-19, health officials say

RALEIGH, N.C. — New data released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday show a record amount of patients in the hospital with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

According to the NCDHHS, 4,741 people were hospitalized Wednesday with the virus -- following a Tuesday’s record of 7,727 people. COVID-19 hospitalizations have continued to remain high since the beginning of January due to a surge in the omicron variant.

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

The rate of people who tested positive for the virus hit 33.3% Thursday, with 29,580 new positive COVID-19 cases.

There have been 20,108 deaths in the state from the virus.

(WATCH BELOW: Some report error in ordering COVID-19 tests from USPS site)