NC coronavirus updates: New COVID hospital data on July 7

We’re tracking information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back every Thursday for updates.

More than 24,000 new COVID cases

At least 24,613 new coronavirus cases were reported in North Carolina last week, up from 23,544 the week before, according to preliminary data from state health officials.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services also reported 889 new weekly COVID-19 hospital patient admissions, an increase from 831 the previous week, according to data through July 2, the most recent metrics available. The daily average of adult coronavirus patients in intensive care was 96, down from 103 the week before.

The figures were released Wednesday, July 6, about four months after health officials started adjusting information on their coronavirus dashboard and publishing weekly COVID-19 data. The data had previously been released almost every day.

Roughly 77% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 72% are fully vaccinated. Of the state’s total population, about 62% are fully vaccinated and about 66% have received at least one dose. State officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.

More than 3.7 million “additional/booster” doses have been administered in North Carolina as of July 6, the health department said. Health officials have urged those who are eligible to get boosted, as data shows it offers increased protection against the omicron coronavirus variant.

Across the state, virtually all new COVID-19 cases were attributed to the omicron variant and its related “lineages” in the two weeks leading up to June 25, the latest time period for which data is available.

Charlotte area sees improvement in COVID metrics

Mecklenburg County, home to Charlotte, is seeing fewer coronavirus cases, data shows.

Before the Fourth of July holiday, the county moved down into the low exposure level. The level, which is labeled in green, is a sign of improvement after the region had been at the yellow-colored medium level, The Charlotte Observer reported.

The system from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers an area’s hospitalizations and coronavirus case metrics.

For the two-week period ending on June 23, Mecklenburg had 5,694 cases. That marked a 6% decrease from the prior two weeks, the Observer reported on July 1.

This story was originally published July 7, 2022 6:51 AM.