Coronavirus live updates: Here's what to know in North Carolina on Jan. 12 Simone Jasper and Hayley Fowler, The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) Jan. 12—We're tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates. Cases surpass 635,000 At least 635,975 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 7,638 have died, according to state health officials. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday reported 6,851 new COVID-19 cases, up from 5,936 the day before. A record 11,581 new cases were reported Saturday. An additional 60 deaths were reported Tuesday. At least 3,940 people in North Carolina were reported hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Tuesday. That's the second-highest hospitalization total reported since the start of the pandemic, trailing behind the record of 3,964 coronavirus patients on Thursday.