Jan. 21. COVID-related hospitalizations statewide hit 4,867 in today’s coronavirus update from the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services. One week ago, there were 4,381 North Carolinians hospitalized with the coronavirus, or 10 percent fewer.

Deaths

There were 85 new COVID deaths reported by the NCDHHS today statewide.

New cases

There were 35,395 new cases in today’s report.

Positivity rate

The statewide positivity rate rose slightly to 34.3 percent, from 33.3 percent yesterday.

—In Mecklenburg, the positivity rate slipped to 33.3 percent in today’s report, the fourth day in a row the 14-day average has eased slightly. It was 6.7 percent on Dec. 1 last year.

Mecklenburg

There were 4,280 new COVID cases as well as five new deaths reported county-wide between yesterday and today, as per NCDHHS data.

North Mecklenburg (change from Thursday)

• Cornelius: 77 new cases, 5,805 cumulative total, 32 deaths cumulative total.

• Davidson: 37 new cases, 3,428 cumulative total, 20 deaths cumulative total.

• Huntersville: 183 new cases, 13,103 cumulative total, 81 deaths cumulative total.