Dec. 16. The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services today reported 4,165 new COVID cases statewide, the highest number since Oct. 1. After dipping slightly yesterday, statewide hospitalizations rose to 1,604, the highest number since Oct. 22, the NCDHHS said.

Deaths

The NCDHHS today also reported 29 new deaths statewide; one was in Mecklenburg County.

Positive tests

The positive test rate statewide fell to 7.5 percent from 9.1 percent yesterday. In Mecklenburg, the positive test rate is 8 percent down a tenth of a point from yesterday.

Mecklenburg

There were 327 new cases reported county-wide between yesterday and today.

North Mecklenburg (change from Wednesday)

• Cornelius: 4 new cases, 4,266 cumulative total, 32 deaths cumulative total.

• Davidson: 13 new cases, 2,502 cumulative total, 19 deaths cumulative total.

• Huntersville: 29 new cases, 9,458 cumulative total, 74 deaths cumulative total.

This day last year

On this date one year ago there were 5,273 new cases and 2,811 people hospitalized in North Carolina due to the coronavirus.