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The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Carolina continued to rise from 4,570 on Easter Sunday to 4,880 on Monday. There have been 93 deaths in the state attributed to the virus and currently 313 hospitalizations. According to Beaufort County Health Department Director Jim Madson, four of those hospitalizations have been Beaufort County COVID-19 cases; two of those cases are currently hospitalized.

In Beaufort County, there were 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday. Eight of the 13 confirmed cases have recovered from COVID-19. Five cases remain active, according to the Sunday update from Beaufort County’s Office of Emergency Services.

The number of confirmed cases in the U.S. rose from 547,681 on Sunday to 572,587; these numbers include the 42,422 people in the U.S. known to have recovered from COVID-19. The U.S. has the greatest number of cases worldwide, and there are likely many more cases as those exhibiting symptoms are now being encouraged to stay home rather than get tested. Nationwide, 23,078 deaths have been attributed to the virus, an increase of 1,392 overnight. Five percent of all active cases are considered serious, requiring hospitalization, down from 19% in February; 11% of all U.S. cases have been considered serious, requiring hospitalization.

North Carolina has confirmed cases in 92 counties.

Of Beaufort County’s total of 13 cases, contact tracing of these known, confirmed cases has concluded:

• one case has been contributed to direct contact with a known patient from another county;
• two cases were related to travel to a known outbreak area;
• 10 cases are attributed to community spread;

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

Eastern North Carolina counties with current cases include: Bertie (12), Beaufort (13), Bladen (2), Brunswick (35), Carteret (22), Camden (1), Chowan (3), Columbus (37), Craven (27), Currituck (3); Dare (13), Duplin (15), Edgecombe (26), Gates (4), Greene (12), Halifax (22), Hertford (4), Jones (7), Lenoir (15), Martin (6), New Hanover (59), Northampton (62), Onslow (34), Pamlico (6), Pasquotank (15), Pender (5), Perquimans (4), Pitt (65), Sampson (13), Washington (17), Wayne (72) and Wilson (70). Durham (290), Mecklenburg (970) and Wake (476) counties have the most cases in North Carolina.

Cases of COVID-19 are projected to peak this week. However, Madson said the peak period for the virus could last several weeks.

There have been 141 tests completed in Beaufort County as of Sunday, with 124 negatives, 11 positives and six pending. These are cumulative numbers and include tests performed at the health department and reporting private medical facilities through the county. Two of Beaufort County’s positive cases were tested in other counties.

“Announcements of cases attributed to community spread will continue for the foreseeable future. This is a normal and expected progression of communicable disease pandemics such as COVID-19. However, frequent hand washing and continuing to practice social distancing is the best way to fight community spread,” the update reads.