
North Carolina has reported the state’s highest single-day increase in cases since the pandemic began, said Mandy Cohen, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, during a news conference on Wednesday.
The department reported 66,513 cases of coronavirus and 1,373 deaths. There were 17,660 tests completed and 901 people are hospitalized.
That’s an increase of 1,843 new cases and 30 deaths in one day, according to the department.
“As we go into the holiday weekend, we must keep our guard up. This virus is just as contagious and deadly as any other on a holiday as it is any other day. And I know we want to gather with family and friends, but we have to remember that a large gathering, especially without masking (and) social distancing, is one of the most likely places for Covid-19 to spread,” Cooper said.
Cooper has also delayed a decision on whether or not to reopen open schools in August.
The governor said he would make a decision “within the next couple of weeks.”
Cooper said that he has given extra time to the state’s school districts to make a plan to reopen and to make sure teachers and staff are prepared.