COVID-19 hospitalizations remain stable in NC, despite uptick in cases

COVID-19 cases are up again in North Carolina. 

A report from the state health department shows twice as many viral particles were found in wastewater this week compared to last. The uptick appears to be driven by the BA.2 variant, which now makes up about 98% of cases in the state. 

Hospitalizations have stayed pretty much the same though – 254 people were admitted this week for COVID-19, compared to 277 last week. Joshua Swift, Forsyth County's public health director, says that's one silver lining. 

“That is hopeful, that even as cases are going up, the hospitals are very stable," says Swift. "They have adequate, more than adequate capacity, and they have been through those previous surges. So they know what to do.”

Swift also says he doesn't anticipate a spike like the one seen last winter. 

“The numbers are just so much lower than the 8,000 per week we saw during Omicron," says Swift. "So I don't think we'll get to that level. I think we've got enough immunity in our population.”

According to the latest CDC analysis none of North Carolina's 100 counties are at high risk of illness or strain on the health care system, despite the uptick in cases.