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The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Carolina continued to rise from 74,775 Monday to 76,290 Tuesday. There have been 1,446 deaths in the state attributed to the virus, an increase of 14 overnight. The state currently has 989 COVID-19 associated hospitalizations and 55,318 people are presumed recovered from the virus in North Carolina.

Beaufort County had a total of 117 confirmed cases as of Tuesday, an increase of eight overnight. Ninety-four of the 117 confirmed cases have recovered from COVID-19. Twenty-two cases remain active; one person is currently hospitalized, according to the Tuesday update from Beaufort County Emergency Services and Beaufort County Health Department.

On June 26, Beaufort County Health Department reported its first death in the county of a resident who tested positive for COVID-19. The person, who was the 56th confirmed case in the county, died June 24.

“Four of our newest cases were identified through contact tracing and have been attributed to having had direct contact with other known cases. The remaining four have been attributed to community spread. Of these newest cases, four were symptomatic and four were asymptomatic at the time of their tests,” the update reads. Of Beaufort County’s total of 117 cases, contact tracing of these known, confirmed cases has concluded:

• 82 cases have been attributed to direct contact with another known positive case;
• two cases were related to travel to a known outbreak area;
• 33 cases are attributed to community spread.

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

The total number of cases that have been confirmed in the U.S. rose from 2,911,888 Monday to 2,983,961 Tuesday; these numbers include 936,476 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 11,776,950 confirmed cases. Nationwide, 131,268 deaths have been attributed to the virus, an increase of 1,167 overnight.

Eastern North Carolina counties total COVID-19 cases as of Monday numbered (does not include number of recovered): Bertie (151), Beaufort (117), Bladen (406), Brunswick (677), Carteret (111), Camden (33), Chowan (30), Columbus (570), Craven (405), Currituck (22); Dare (80), Duplin (1,595), Edgecombe (352), Gates (27), Greene (192), Halifax (329), Hertford (174), Hyde (20), Jones (39), Lenoir (391), Martin (150), New Hanover (1,260), Northampton (203), Onslow (364), Pamlico (26), Pasquotank (225), Pender (303), Perquimans (37), Pitt (844), Sampson (1,122), Tyrrell (19), Washington (41), Wayne (1,926) and Wilson (804). Durham (4,176), Mecklenburg (13,317) and Wake (6,299) counties have the most cases in North Carolina.

There had been 2,564 tests completed in Beaufort County as of Monday, with 2,263 negatives, 109 positives and 192 pending. These are cumulative numbers and include tests performed at the health department and reporting private medical facilities through the county. Eight 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.

Beaufort County Health Department is hosting its second of two community drive-thru COVID-19 testing events Wednesday at Southside High School. The event will take place from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., then from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. ID is required. Those with insurance are asked to bring their insurance cards — insurance will pay for the test. Those without insurance will not be charged.