Feb. 9. The downward slide in hospitalizations attributable to COVID-19 continues. The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services said statewide COVID-related hospitalizations were at 3,812 as of noon today, down 26 percent from the peak on Jan. 27.

Deaths

Deaths, which lag hospitalization data, climbed by 157 in today’s NCDHHS report, up from 76 new deaths yesterday.

New cases

There were 10,513 new COVID cases statewide in today’s report. That’s up from fewer than 5,000 in each of the past two days, but lower than any day Feb. 2-4.

Positivity rate

The statewide COVID positivity rate fell to 20.2 percent after a climb yesterday to 23.4 percent

—In Mecklenburg, the 14-day trailing average slipped to 24.1 percent positive.

Mecklenburg

There were 780 new COVID cases and four new deaths countywide.

North Mecklenburg (change from Tuesday)

• Cornelius: 21 new cases, 6,460 cumulative total, 34 deaths cumulative total.

• Davidson: 16 new cases, 3,928 cumulative total, 21 deaths cumulative total.

• Huntersville: 46 new cases, 14,695 cumulative total, 85 deaths cumulative total.