Dec. 31. With COVID-related hospitalizations climbing to 2,387 statewide, the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services is reporting 19,174 new cases of the coronavirus and a higher positivity rate of 22.9 percent.

Today’s new case volume surpassed yesterday’s which was a record increase. It’s well over double the increase on this day last year. Click here to review NCDHHS data.

Deaths

There were 27 new COVID deaths statewide; none have been reported in Mecklenburg for three days in a row,.

Mecklenburg

There were 2,218 new cases reported county-wide between Thursday and Friday.

Mecklenburg’s 14-day average positive test rate is 14.5 percent

North Mecklenburg (change from Thursday)

• Cornelius: 55 new cases, 4,624 cumulative total, 32 deaths cumulative total.

• Davidson: 34 new cases, 2,686 cumulative total, 19 deaths cumulative total.

• Huntersville: 136 new cases, 10,257 cumulative total, 74 deaths cumulative total.

Last year on this date

On Dec. 31 2020 there were 6,715 new cases and 3,473 people hospitalized in North Carolina due to the coronavirus.