Feb. 28. New COVID cases took a tumble in today’s coronavirus report, falling below the 1,000 mark for the first time since July last year, The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services reported 909 new cases and 1,618 people hospitalized with COVID statewide, down more than two-thirds in the space of a month.

Deaths

The NCDHHS also reported 70 new COVID-related deaths between Friday’s report and today’s. There were no deaths in Mecklenburg county during the same period.

Testing

The NCDHHS said the statewide positivity rate was 6.9 percent today, down from 30.4 percent on Jan. 28. The Mecklenburg 14-day trailing average was 8.8 percent, down from 31.2 percent Jan. 28.

Mecklenburg (change from Friday)

There were 449 new COVID cases reported countywide.

North Mecklenburg (change from Friday)

• Cornelius: 21 new cases, 6,692 cumulative total, 34 deaths cumulative total.

• Davidson: 4 new cases, 4,040 cumulative total, 21 deaths cumulative total.

• Huntersville: 33 new cases, 15,140 cumulative total, 89 deaths cumulative total.