Updated January 1, 2021 1:08 p.m. EST By Kasey Cunningham, WRAL reporter Raleigh, N.C. — Hospitals across North Carolina are continuing to fill up as COVID-19 cases rise, and smaller, rural hospitals are especially stressed in areas dealing with critical community spread. “We had our highest watermark yesterday with 54 patients with COVID, in addition to the regular patients we have,” said Jason Cox, chief operating officer at UNC Health Southeastern, in Lumberton. “It’s certainly the most we’ve ever seen hospitalized here in Robeson County.” Cox says the hospital is at 93% capacity, and its intensive care unit is at maximum capacity, with about half being COVID patients. But the biggest challenge could be personnel.