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The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Carolina continued to rise from 105,276 Wednesday to 107,125 Thursday. There have been 1,756 deaths in the state attributed to the virus, an increase of 24 overnight. The state currently has 1,188 COVID-19 associated hospitalizations and 78,707 people are presumed recovered from the virus in North Carolina.

Beaufort County had a total of 249 confirmed cases as of Thursday, an increase of 23 overnight. Seven people are hospitalized, according to the Thursday update from Beaufort County Emergency Services and Beaufort County Health Department.. Beaufort County’s numbers increased by 49 new cases last week, followed by 16 Monday, 14 Tuesday, eight Wednesday and 23 Thursday for a total of 110 new cases over the past two weeks. There are currently 71 active COVID-19 cases in Beaufort County, 177 people have recovered from the virus. As of Thursday, there have been two COVID-19-related deaths in Beaufort County, according to the update.

“Nine of today’s 23 new cases were symptomatic at the time of their tests and one was asymptomatic. Nine cases were also identified through contact tracing and have been attributed to having had contact with other known cases. Two cases have been attributed to community spread. All other cases are currently under investigation,” reads the Thursday update.

Contact tracing of the 249 known, confirmed cases has concluded:

• 140 cases have been attributed to direct contact with another known positive case;
• two cases were related to travel to a known outbreak area;
• 70 cases are attributed to community spread;
• 37 cases are still under investigation.

All active cases are self-isolating, the update reads.

The total number of cases that have been confirmed in the U.S. rose from 3,941,741 Wednesday to 4,007,859 Thursday; these numbers include 1,210,018 people in the U.S. presumed recovered from COVID-19. The U.S. has the highest total number of cases worldwide; worldwide, there have been 15,321,211 confirmed cases. Nationwide, 143,846 deaths have been attributed to the virus, a change of 1,090 overnight.

Eastern North Carolina counties total COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday numbered (does not include number of recovered): Bertie (191), Beaufort (249), Bladen (509), Brunswick (1,021), Carteret (189), Camden (50), Chowan (72), Columbus (725), Craven (555), Currituck (57); Dare (163), Duplin (1,920), Edgecombe (477), Gates (35), Greene (269), Halifax (510), Hertford (219), Hyde (35), Jones (44), Lenoir (468), Martin (196), New Hanover (1,991), Northampton (279), Onslow (702), Pamlico (50), Pasquotank (281), Pender (538), Perquimans (50), Pitt (1,313), Sampson (1,351), Tyrrell (83), Washington (95), Wayne (2,167) and Wilson (1,231). Durham (5,269), Mecklenburg (18,403) and Wake (9,377) counties have the most cases in North Carolina.

There had been 3,659 tests completed in Beaufort County as of Wednesday, with 3,241 negatives, 240 positives and 178 pending. These are cumulative numbers and include tests performed at the health department and reporting private medical facilities through the county. Nine of Beaufort County’s cases were tested in other counties but are Beaufort County residents.

The update reminded county residents to “practice the Three W’s:” wear face coverings, wait six feet apart and wash your hands often.

“There were approximately 580 tests completed by Beaufort County agencies last week,” the update reads.