The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released their daily update involving COVID-19 cases within the state.
As of Saturday, there are now 640,436 PCR positive cases and 72,280 antigen positive cases, 3,416 people hospitalized and 8,586 COVID-19 related deaths.
That is 7,181 new total cases and 122 additional deaths from Friday.
A total of 8,390,282 total COVID-19 tests have been completed in North Carolina.
NCDHHS said in a Saturday press release that the first known case of the United Kingdom variant of COVID-19 in North Carolina was identified in a Mecklenburg County resident. In the United Stated, 195 cases of the strain (B.1.1.7) had been reported in 21 states as of January 22, 2021.
Early data suggests that this variant may be more contagious than other variants.
“While expected, identification of this COVID-19 variant in North Carolina is concerning, especially at the same time as we are already seeing very high numbers of cases,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD. “It is more important than ever to practice the 3Ws.”
Here's the breakdown of confirmed cases in local areas:
| TOTAL CASES | NEW CASES TODAY | TOTAL DEATHS | NEW DEATHS TODAY | |
| NC STATE TOTALS | 712,716 | 7,181 | 8,586 | 122 |
| BERTIE COUNTY | 1,473 | 16 | 27 | 0 |
| CAMDEN COUNTY | 439 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| CHOWAN COUNTY | 1,130 | 39 | 20 | 0 |
| CURRITUCK COUNTY | 1,008 | 16 | 13 | 0 |
| DARE COUNTY | 1,569 | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| GATES COUNTY | 505 | 6 | 12 | 0 |
| HERTFORD COUNTY | 1,718 | 14 | 54 | 1 |
| NORTHAMPTON COUNTY | 1,422 | 21 | 27 | 0 |
| PASQUOTANK COUNTY | 2,525 | 42 | 66 | 0 |
| PERQUIMANS COUNTY | 715 | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| LOCAL TOTALS | 12,504 | 182 | 235 | 1 |