Feb. 25. New COVID cases have climbed for three straight days, hitting 4,887 in today’s NCDHHS coronavirus report. Today’s increase is still dramatically lower than the 13,017 new cases logged in on Jan. 25.

Hospitalizations

Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continue to plunge: 1,861 in today’s report, down from 5,055 on Jan. 25.

Deaths

All that said, the NCDHHS also reported 51 new COVID-related deaths statewide. One was in Mecklenburg County.

Testing

The NCDHHS said the statewide positivity rate was 7.1 percent today, down from 36.4 percent on Jan. 25. The Mecklenburg 14-day trailing average was 10.7 percent, down from 32.3 percent Jan. 25.

Mecklenburg (change from Thursday)

There were 204 new COVID cases reported countywide and 3 new deaths.

North Mecklenburg (change from Thursday)

• Cornelius: 9 new cases, 6,671 cumulative total, 34 deaths cumulative total.

• Davidson: 2 new cases, 4,036 cumulative total, 21 deaths cumulative total.

• Huntersville: 15 new cases, 15,107 cumulative total, 89 deaths cumulative total.