Oct. 19. The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services today reported statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations under 2,000 for the third day in a row.

There are 1,811 North Carolinians hospitalized, down from 1,896 hospitalized as of yesterday and 1,852 on Monday.

The NCDHHS reported 2,610 new cases, substantially more than yesterday, but well below Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week, when more than 3,000 new cases were reported each day statewide.

Meanwhile, the Biden Administration has unveiled its plans to roll out COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 to 11, pending approval by the US Food & Drug Administration.

Deaths

The NCDHHS reported 65 new COVID-related deaths statewide, including two more deaths in Huntersville where there have been a total of 75 COVID deaths, 17 since early September.

Testing

The statewide positivity rate is at 6.5 percent

Mecklenburg

In Mecklenburg County, there were 206 new cases reported overnight. The county-wide positive test rate is 6.8 percent.

North Mecklenburg (change from Tuesday)

• Cornelius: 2 new cases, 3,961 cumulative total, 29 deaths cumulative total.

• Davidson: 2 new cases, 2,310 cumulative total, 18 deaths cumulative total.

• Huntersville: 12 new cases, 8,676 cumulative total, 75 deaths cumulative total.