COVID-19 in North Carolina: Latest CDC Hospital Signal
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Track the latest available COVID-19 hospitalization signal for North Carolina using CDC NHSN hospital data. This page shows the week ending Aug 22, 2026, trend direction, and how North Carolina compares with the national average and nearby states.
Latest available CDC NHSN week: Aug 22, 2026
new COVID-19 hospital admissions in the latest CDC reporting week
Week ending Aug 22, 2026
Fast answer: the latest available CDC hospital-admissions signal for North Carolina is moderate, not a live case count. Use the trend, week ending date, and nearby-state comparison before treating this as a current local spread read.
Need the label in plain English? Interpret moderate COVID activity.
Key Takeaways
- 1The latest available CDC NHSN COVID-19 signal for North Carolina is moderate, with 1.3 new admissions per 100,000 residents for the week ending Aug 22, 2026.
- 2In that reporting week, COVID-19 admissions were up from 0.9 per 100K last week.
- 3North Carolina is 0.5 per 100k above the national rate.
Practical Steps for This Signal
COVID is circulating — everyday precautions help
- •Stay up to date on COVID boosters, especially if you're over 65 or high-risk
- •If you are sick, stay home until symptoms are improving overall and you have been fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours; then use added precautions for 5 days
- •Test if you develop symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, body aches)
- •Wash hands frequently and improve indoor ventilation when possible
These general steps pair Local Health Signal's interpretation of the reported public-health signal with CDC prevention guidance. They are not a personal risk assessment or medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider about what's right for you and your family.
North Carolina COVID-19 Trend — 2025-2026 Season
New confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population per week.
Is COVID-19 Getting Better or Worse in North Carolina?
COVID-19 is growing in North Carolina
The CDC Rt estimate suggests transmission was increasing as of the source date. This is a modeled direction estimate, not a guarantee of future activity.
Technical details (CDC Rt estimate)
Reproduction number (Rt): 1.11 (95% CI: 1.08 – 1.14)
Probability of growth: 100%
Rt below 1.0 means each case leads to fewer new cases (declining). Above 1.0 means growing.
Based on the CDC Rt estimate as of August 25, 2026.Source
North Carolina vs. National Average and Nearby States
Nearby States
| State | Activity Level | Per 100K |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 0.4 | |
| Low | 0.6 | |
| Low | 0.8 | |
| Low | 0.7 |
Sources & Methods
COVID-19 data reflects confirmed hospital admissions reported through the CDC's NHSN system. Activity levels are based on new admissions per 100,000 population per week. Hospitalization data may undercount total infections as most COVID-19 cases are now managed at home.Learn more about our methods.
More Health Data for North Carolina
Best Next Clicks for North Carolina
Useful next questions
Questions worth opening from the North Carolina COVID page
Use these pages when you need the national COVID-19 picture, help interpreting the current level, or travel context.
COVID Question
Is COVID Still Going Around Right Now?
A direct national COVID answer, plus the fastest route into state pages, travel checks, and the broader respiratory picture.
COVID Interpretation
What Does Moderate COVID Activity Mean?
A plain-English interpretation of the moderate COVID label, with next clicks into the COVID map, local pages, and travel checks.
Travel Question
What Should I Check Before Traveling?
The shortest useful travel workflow, plus the fastest route into destination, flu, and measles pages.
Cities in North Carolina
Health data available for these North Carolina cities:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the latest COVID-19 activity level in North Carolina?
The latest available CDC NHSN COVID-19 signal for North Carolina is MODERATE with 1.3 new hospital admissions per 100,000 people for the week ending Aug 22, 2026. There were 136 total new COVID-19 admissions in that reporting week.
Where does this COVID-19 data come from?
This data comes from the CDC's NHSN hospital reporting system. Hospitals across the United States report confirmed COVID-19 admissions, ICU usage, and bed capacity weekly. The metric shown is new admissions per 100,000 population.
How often is this page updated?
This page is updated weekly after the CDC publishes new hospital reporting data. There is typically a 1-2 week lag between when admissions occur and when data appears here.
Local Health Signal is not affiliated with the CDC or any government agency. Data is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended for clinical decision making. See our methods page for details on data sources and limitations.