Oct. 20. The NC Dept. of Health and Human Services today reported 1,578 new cases statewide of COVID-19, up from 1,144 new cases that were reported on Monday.

Comparing the past seven days to the past 24 days shows an increase of 19.43 percent in the median number of new cases in the past week vs. the past three-and-a-half weeks. (On Sept. 25, the NCDHHS changed its COVID-19 new case reporting methodology. Cornelius Today has opted to calculate the rate of change from Sept. 26 to now.)

While today’s new case volume is an increase from yesterday’s, it’s down from last week when new case volumes exceeded 2,500 per day.

Tests

Tests are coming back positive at the rate of 7.4 percent statewide, up from 5.7 percent yesterday. The goal is less than 5 percent.

Deaths

There were 53 new deaths statewide due to COVID-19—up from five reported on Monday. A total of 3,992 North Carolinians have died because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hospitalizations

Hospitalizations rose by 61 patients to 1,203 statewide, according to today’s NCDHHS report.

Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg County’s positive tests are coming back at the rate of 5.1 percent. The positivity rate was 4.3 percent one week ago.

There were 218 new cases reported in Mecklenburg, up from 138 new cases yesterday. The county-wide total is now at 32,038.

There was no new deaths in Mecklenburg in today’s report.

North Mecklenburg

Cornelius: 5 new cases, 637 cumulative total; 16 deaths total.

Davidson: 2 new cases, 335 cumulative cases total; 6 deaths total.

Huntersville: 8 new cases, 1,170 cumulative case total; 14 deaths total.