Using John Hopkins data, we compiled new confirmed COVID-19 cases in NC from Aug. 21 to Sept. 20. The state’s median number of new cases since Aug. 21 is 1,300 and the state’s median over the past 7 days is 1,274

Sept. 21. By Dave Yochum. The NC Dept. of Health and Human Services today reported 800 new cases of COVID-19 statewide and four new related deaths. Today’s increase in new cases is down from Sunday’s increase of 1,333 and Saturday’s increase of 1,229.

It’s also well below the median number of new cases statewide over the past week—1,274 according to Johns Hopkins University—and the median number of new cases statewide over the past month—1,407 as per JHU data. To track the pandemic nationally and internationally via Johns Hopkins, click here.

The median over the past week is down 9.45 percent from the previous month. (See chart above.)

At least 194,381 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 3,247 have died, up four from yesterday, according to the NCDHHS. One of the deaths occurred in Huntersville.

Testing

Meanwhile, the percentage of positive tests rose to 5.4 percent statewide, up from 4.6 percent on Sunday. The rate of positive tests had been falling over the past 10 days, from 7.1 percent on Sept. 9 to less than 5 percent as of Saturday.

State officials have said their goal is positive test results to be below 5 percent and trend down from there.

Total COVID-19 tests statewide surpassed 2.81 million in today’s NCDHHS report.

Hospitalizations

The number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 fell by four to 885, according to DHHS. It’s an improvement from exactly one month ago when 1,015 people were hospitalized.

Mecklenburg

The NCDHHS reports 55 new cases in Mecklenburg County, down from 100 new cases Sunday and 85 new cases on Saturday. The median number of new cases over the past week is 100, based on data from Johns Hopkins; over the past month, 110.

The total number of deaths countywide, according to NCDHHS, is no at 341, up two from yesterday and up 72 from exactly one month ago.

Mecklenburg coronavirus tests are coming back positive at the rate of 4.2 percent, down from 5.1 percent one week ago.

North Mecklenburg

Cornelius: 0 new cases, total 506. Cumulative deaths 16.

Davidson: 1 new case, total 287. Cumulative deaths 5.

Huntersville: 6 new cases, total 902. Cumulative deaths 12.

Over the past 7 days, Mecklenburg accounted for 7.7% of new confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Carolina. Mecklenburg has 10% of the state’s population

State public health officials track coronavirus spread through four main metrics: Number of new cases, percentage of people who test positive, hospitalizations and deaths.