Watch: Gov. Cooper provides updates as N.C. reports more than 3K new COVID-19 cases, highest daily increase since May

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released their daily update involving COVID-19 cases within the state.

As of Thursday, there are now 885,068 PCR positive cases and 159,809 antigen positive cases, 1,141 people hospitalized and 13,618 COVID-19 related deaths.

That is 3,268 new total cases and 12 additional deaths from Wednesday which is the highest daily increase since May.

Gov. Cooper held a press conference with Dr. Mandy Cohen Thursday afternoon and provided updates amid COVID-19 case spikes.

Dr. Cohen said the slope of rise in cases is faster than what we have seen in past cases adding, “It is much more contagious than it was earlier."

Things have changed faster because the rate of transmission was previously from one person to an average of 2-3 people originally and now the Delta variant is one person to an average of six people. Dr. Cohen said, “Nearly all that spread is between people not vaccinated people."

A map of North Carolina was showed, breaking down counties and much of N.C. is red and orange which means there is high or substantial viral spread there.

Gov. Cooper said everyone in a county with high rates of virus spread is encouraged to wear a mask in public settings indoors. That is 80% of N.C. counties.

Cooper also said he is now directing state government cabinet agencies to verify wither their employees are vaccinated or not. Unvaccinated employees will be tested at least once a week.

He urged other state agencies and private businesses to do the same and added that many businesses are already requiring people to get vaccinated and he, "applauds that."

Additionally, N.C. will be going by CDC recommendations for schools. This means it is recommended that grades K-12 require masks for all students and teachers no matter their vaccination status. This is an update from last week's announcement.

Officials reiterated this guidance:

• If you aren’t vaccinated you should not gather with people you don’t live with
• If you aren’t vaccinated you should not travel

“Takeaway from all of this is there is only one way out of this pandemic and that is vaccination," Dr. Cohen said.

Here's the breakdown of confirmed cases in local areas:

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