Jan. 3. With COVID-related hospitalizations hitting their highest point since early October, the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services reported 31 new COVID deaths from Friday’s report to today, with one of them in Davidson.

The NCDHHS said 2,722 North Carolinians are hospitalized due to COVID, more than double the number hospitalized Dec. 3 (1,202).

There have been 12,989 new cases of the coronavirus statewide since Dec. 31.

Positivity rate climbs

The positivity rate statewide jumped to 27.4 percent. In Mecklenburg, the 14-day average positivity rate jumped to 19.2 percent..

Mecklenburg

There were 7,035 new cases reported county-wide between Friday and today.

North Mecklenburg (change from Friday)

• Cornelius: 125 new cases, 4,749 cumulative total, 32 deaths cumulative total.

• Davidson: 73 new cases, 2,759 cumulative total, 20 deaths cumulative total.

• Huntersville: 379 new cases, 10,636 cumulative total, 74 deaths cumulative total.