Jan. 31. The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services is reporting that COVID-related hospitalizations have fallen for the second reporting day in a row. There are now 4,882 North Carolinians hospitalized with COVID, down from 5,084 on Friday. Hospitalizations may have peaked on Jan. 27 with 5,158 North Carolinians hospitalized.

On Dec. 31, there were 2,387 North Carolinians hospitalized due to COVID.

Deaths

The NCDHHS reported a total of 20,757 COVID-related deaths, up 162 from Friday.

New cases

There were 7,327 new cases in today’s report, the lowest daily increase since Dec. 28.

Positivity rate

The statewide COVID positivity rate is 26.9 percent, the lowest it has been since Dec. 31.

—In Mecklenburg, the 14-day trailing average was 31 percent, as reported by NCDHHS.

Mecklenburg

There were 4,424 new COVID cases as well as six new deaths reported county-wide between Friday and today.

North Mecklenburg (change from Friday)

• Cornelius: 92 new cases, 6,250 cumulative total, 32 deaths cumulative total.

• Davidson: 74 new cases, 3,776 cumulative total, 20 deaths cumulative total.

• Huntersville: 259 new cases, 14,236 cumulative total, 82 deaths cumulative total.