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The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Carolina continued to rise from 44,264 Sunday to 45,114 Monday. There have been 1,140 deaths in the state attributed to the virus, an increase of eight deaths overnight. The state currently has 797 COVID-19 associated hospitalizations and 29,219 people are presumed recovered from the virus in North Carolina.

Beaufort County had a total of 54 confirmed cases as of Monday. Forty-two of the 54 confirmed cases have recovered from COVID-19. Twelve cases remain active.

Eighteen of Beaufort County’s positive cases were asymptomatic, meaning they experienced no symptoms, according to the Monday update from Beaufort County Emergency Services and Beaufort County Health Department.

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

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

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

The number of confirmed cases in the U.S. rose from 2,093,335 Sunday to 2,110,791 Monday; these numbers include 576,334 people in the U.S. presumed recovered from COVID-19. The U.S. has the highest number of cases worldwide; worldwide, there have been 8,003,021 confirmed cases. Nationwide, 116,090 deaths have been attributed to the virus, an increase of 361 overnight.

Eastern North Carolina counties with current cases include: Bertie (135), Beaufort (54), Bladen (196), Brunswick (241), Carteret (47), Camden (6), Chowan (19), Columbus (447), Craven (276), Currituck (16); Dare (25), Duplin (1,213), Edgecombe (253), Gates (24), Greene (122), Halifax (239), Hertford (151), Hyde (3), Jones (28), Lenoir (298), Martin (100), New Hanover (385), Northampton (170), Onslow (160), Pamlico (15), Pasquotank (131), Pender (143), Perquimans (29), Pitt (493), Sampson (779), Tyrrell (5), Washington (35), Wayne (1,533) and Wilson (482). Durham (2,712), Mecklenburg (7,321) and Wake (3,099) counties have the most cases in North Carolina.

There had been 1,413 tests completed in Beaufort County as of Monday, with 1,267 negatives, 50 positives and 96 pending. These are cumulative numbers and include tests performed at the health department and reporting private medical facilities through the county. Four 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 6 feet apart and wash your hands often.