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The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Carolina continued to rise 844 on Friday to 1,012 on Saturday. There have been five deaths in the state attributed to the virus.

In a Beaufort County, a fourth COVID-19 case was confirmed Friday. According to Beaufort County Health Director Jim Madson, the fourth person has been hospitalized.

The number of confirmed cases in the U.S. went from 96,212 on Friday to 118,827 cases on Saturday; this does not include the 921 people who 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, 1,991 deaths have been attributed to the virus. Four percent of all active cases are considered serious, requiring hospitalization — down from 19% in February, according to Beaufort County’s Office of Emergency Services.

The state has confirmed cases in 72 counties. Beaufort County had four confirmed cases as of Saturday night. One case has been contributed to direct contact with a known patient from another county. The second is still under investigation. The third case was attributed to recent travel to an outbreak area. The fourth is under investigation. All are self-isolating, according to the Saturday night update from Chris Newkirk, deputy director of Beaufort County Emergency Services.

Eastern North Carolina counties with current cases include: Bertie (3), Beaufort (4), Brunswick (12), Carteret (7), Camden (1), Chowan (1), Columbus (2), Craven (4), Dare (2), Duplin (1), Edgecombe (1), Greene (3), Halifax (1), Hertford (3), Lenoir (3), New Hanover (21), Northampton (3), Onslow (4), Pasquotank (1), Perquimans (1), Pitt (10), Sampson (1), Wayne (3) and Wilson (7). Durham (113), Mecklenburg (299) and Wake (123) counties have the most cases.

On Tuesday, Beaufort County confirmed two cases; on Wednesday, a third case was confirmed in the county. Friday, the fourth case was confirmed. Beaufort County’s Health Department has completed 43 tests to date, with 34 negative results, two positives and seven pending. (Our third and fourth positive cases was tested by another county provider.), reads the update.

Starting Monday, Beaufort County Health Department will no longer provide community testing due to limited supplies. Most medical providers in the county can conduct the COVID-19 test, according to the Friday update from Beaufort County Emergency Services.

“Alternative surveillance tools will be used to track the spread in our county. Tracking only lab-confirmed cases is not a reliable or accurate way to understand the pandemic; therefore, the health department will use influenza surveillance tools designed to track widespread respiratory illness,” the update reads.

All Beaufort County residents should:

• Limit your travel to grocery stores, etc. to essential trips only.
• Not congregating in social settings.
• Continue to practice social distancing by maintaining six feet of space between yourself and others.
• Avoid using public amenities such as playground equipment, etc.