Jan. 18. After a long holiday weekend, COVID-related hospitalizations statewide reached 4,630. There were a total of 97 COVID-related deaths since Friday, according to the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services.

At this point in the pandemic, it is unclear how many people are entering the hospital for unrelated reasons and incidentally test positive for the virus. One week ago, the NCDHHS reported 3,991 North Carolinians hospitalized with COVID.

New cases

The NCDHHS reported 31,902 new cases statewide.

Positivity rate

The statewide positivity rate rose to 33.3 percent. In Mecklenburg, the 14-day average positivity rate is 34 percent, according to the NCDHHS report.

Mecklenburg

Data for the county as well as Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville will resume Wednesday.