Oct. 22. The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services today reported COVID-19 hospitalizations under 2,000 for a fifth straight day. The volume of cases eased to 2,609, down from 3,003 yesterday.

There are 1,693 North Carolinians hospitalized, down from 3,400 hospitalized on Sept. 22.

Meanwhile, Politico is reporting that the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formally endorsed the use of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster shots, as well as a mix-and-match strategy for booster shot brands.

Deaths

The NCDHHS reported 69 new COVID-related deaths statewide, for a total of 17,765 since the outbreak began in early 2020.

Testing

The statewide positivity rate fell to 4.4 percent, back near pre-Delta variant levels.

Mecklenburg

In Mecklenburg County, there were 143 new cases reported overnight. The county-wide positive test rate is 6.6 percent.

North Mecklenburg (change from Thursday)

• Cornelius: 8 new cases, 3,980 cumulative total, 29 deaths cumulative total.

• Davidson: 3 new cases, 2,314 cumulative total, 18 deaths cumulative total.

• Huntersville: 10 new cases, 8,696 cumulative total, 75 deaths cumulative total.