As the Omicron variant causes stark increases in COVID-19 cases throughout the country, North Carolina COVID-19 testing and positive cases have been record breaking in the first days of 2022. PRE’s Meredith Radford has more.
In a COVID-19 briefing Tuesday, the new Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Kody Kinsley said North Carolina broke the single-day record for COVID-19 cases last week three days in a row. The state also set a record for testing.
“On New Year’s Eve, more than 91,000 tests were reported to the state. I know many people felt the frustration of this increase and had to endure long lines.”
The positive test rate remains high as of Tuesday, at nearly 30%.
Governor Roy Cooper announced in the briefing that he’s extending Executive Order 224, which requires state employees in cabinet agencies to be vaccinated or to get tested, giving the authority for boosters to be included in the definition of being fully vaccinated if the CDC takes that step.
For Public Radio East, I’m Meredith Radford.
