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After almost two years into the pandemic, Stanly County reached a high-water mark this week when it comes to people needing to be hospitalized.

On Tuesday, at least 43 people were hospitalized with Covid-19, up from 37 the day before and the highest total to date during the pandemic. The previous record was 39 and it occurred twice — on Sept. 2, during the delta surge, and on Jan. 8 of last year.

The total is a four-fold increase from a month ago, when 11 people were hospitalized on Dec. 23, and represents a 72 percent increase from a week ago, when there were 25 people hospitalized.

The number of people hospitalized had remained fairly stable over the previous two weeks, hovering in the mid-to-high 20s, before surging this week.

Statewide, at least 5,055 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Jan. 25, up from 4,896 the day before, according to state health data.

The Stanly County Health Department reported 1,566 new cases last week, up from around 1,200 the previous week and the highest total to date. More than 17,000 cases have been reported in the county since the pandemic began in March 2020.

Three more people have died this week, bringing the cumulative total to 241. So far in January, 19 people have died.