Feb. 10. The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services today reported statewide COVID-related hospitalizations fell to 3,686 as of noon today, down 19 percent in a single week.

Deaths

Deaths, which lag hospitalization data, climbed by 98 in today’s NCDHHS report, up from 76 new deaths yesterday. From Dec. 31 to yesterday, there have been 173 COVID-related deaths in North Meck.

Statewide, there were 2,056 during the same time period statewide as per the NCDHHS. As of today’s NCDHHS data, 21,580 North Carolinians have died due to COVID since the outbreak began two years ago.

There were nine new deaths countywide in today’s report, including one in Huntersville.

New cases

There were 8,725 new COVID cases statewide, the lowest increase so far this month.

Positivity rate

The statewide COVID positivity rate fell to 16.6 percent, the lowest percentage since Dec. 29.

—In Mecklenburg, the 14-day trailing average also fell, to 22.9 percent positive.

Mecklenburg

There were 749 new COVID cases.

North Mecklenburg (change from Wednesday)

• Cornelius: 24 new cases, 6,484 cumulative total, 34 deaths cumulative total.

• Davidson: 19 new cases, 3,947 cumulative total, 21 deaths cumulative total.

• Huntersville: 60 new cases, 14,755 cumulative total, 86 deaths cumulative total.