Feb. 8. The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services said today that COVID-related hospitalizations fell to 3,956 in today’s coronavirus update, the first time they have been below 4,000 since Jan. 11.

Deaths

Deaths, which lag hospitalization data, climbed by 76 in today’s NCDHHS report, including one new death in Davidson

New cases

There were 4,648 new COVID cases statewide in today’s report. It’s the smallest one-day increase since late December.

Positivity rate

The statewide COVID positivity rate rose to 23.4 percent from just under 20 percent yesterday.

—In Mecklenburg, the 14-day trailing average slipped to 24.8 percent positive, representing a full week of declining data.

Mecklenburg

There were 383 new COVID cases and 10 new deaths countywide since Monday’s report.

North Mecklenburg (change from Monday)

• Cornelius: 8 new cases, 6,439 cumulative total, 34 deaths cumulative total.

• Davidson: 10 new cases, 3,912 cumulative total, 21 deaths cumulative total.

• Huntersville: 28 new cases, 14,649 cumulative total, 85 deaths cumulative total.