Feb. 8. Based on Johns Hopkins’ COVID-19 data, the volume of new COVID-19 cases continues to slow in North Carolina. The median of the past seven days (4,674) is down 24 percent from the past 31 days (6,168), computed through Feb. 7.

At the same time, new statewide data from the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services shows a total of 799,279 cases since the outbreak began here in March last year. There were 3,084 new cases in today’s report.

There were only eight new coronavirus-related deaths, down substantially from the 100-plus highs of last week. There have been a total of 9,991 deaths due to COVID-19 statewide, according to NCDHHS.

Nationwide, there have been more than 463,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.

Hospitalizations

Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 fell to 2,339, down from a high of nearly 4,000 in mid-January.

Hospitalization demographics

Age 20-39 = 12 percent

Age 40-59 = 26 percent

Age 60-79 = 40 percent

Source: NCDHHS

Testing

The statewide positive test rate is at 7.9 percent, while the positive test rate in Mecklenburg was 10.8 percent in today’s report.

Vaccinations

NCDHHS reports more than 970,000 first doses have been administered, with 68 percent being given to those 65 and older. Women are getting the vaccine 60 percent to men at 40 percent.

Mecklenburg

There were 3,613 new cases of COVID-19 county-wide since Monday a week ago, for a total of 90,473 since March of last year. There have been 794 total cumulative deaths county-wide due to COVID-19.

North Mecklenburg

Cornelius: 2,304 cumulative; 21 deaths total.

Davidson: 1,291 cumulative; 14 deaths total.

Huntersville: 4,759 cumulative; 46 deaths total.