Dec. 17. The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services today reported 3,980 new COVID cases statewide, down from yesterday’s increase of 4,165—the highest in more than three months.

Statewide hospitalizations fell to 1,584, from 1,604.

Deaths

The NCDHHS today also reported 22 new deaths statewide; three were in Mecklenburg County.

Positive tests

The positive test rate statewide rose to 7.8 percent from 7.5 percent yesterday. In Mecklenburg, the positive test rate stayed at 8 percent.

Mecklenburg

There were 373 new cases reported county-wide between yesterday and today.

North Mecklenburg (change from Thursday)

• Cornelius: 14 new cases, 4,280 cumulative total, 32 deaths cumulative total.

• Davidson: 6 new cases, 2,508 cumulative total, 19 deaths cumulative total.

• Huntersville: 23 new cases, 9,481 cumulative total, 74 deaths cumulative total.

This day last year

On this date one year ago there were 5,786 new cases and 2,804 people hospitalized in North Carolina due to the coronavirus.