March 24. The median of new coronavirus cases over the past seven days (1,999) in North Carolina is running 1.38 percent below the median during the past 31 days (2,027), based on COVID-19 data supplied by Johns Hopkins University.

Yesterday Gov. Roy Cooper eased COVID-19 restrictions such that retailers, museums and salons may reopen at 100 percent capacity starting Friday.

Restaurants, breweries and gyms will be able to open at 75 percent capacity indoors and 100 percent outdoors. Bars will be able to operate at 50 percent. For details, click here.

The rate of decrease is falling

For the week ended March 3, the new case volume in North Carolina fell 18 percent compared to the previous 31 days.

Vaccinations

Just over 13 percent of the total US population has been fully vaccinated according to Johns Hopkins. North Carolina is slightly below average, with 12.9 percent fully vaccinated.

Georgia is at 10.56 percent and South Carolina at 12.04 percent.

NCDHHS data

The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services today reported 2,098 new COVID-19 cases, up from 1,062 new cases yesterday.

Hospitalizations

Hospitalizations statewide were at 981 today, up from 956 yesterday.

There were 30 new COVID-19 related deaths statewide, one in Mecklenburg County.

Testing

The statewide positive test rate was at 6.1 percent in today’s report. Mecklenburg County came in at 5 percent.

North Mecklenburg

Cornelius: 10 new cases, 2,630 cumulative; 24 deaths total.

Davidson: 5 new cases, 1,510 cumulative; 15 deaths total.

Huntersville: 16 new cases, 5,374 cumulative; 47 deaths total.