Oct. 6. The NC Dept. of Health and Human Services is reporting a decrease in the number of new cases of COVID-19 statewide: 1,504 new cases of the coronavirus in today’s report, for a total of 221,258 since the outbreak began here in March.

There were 33 new deaths in today’s report, for a total of 3,670 North Carolinians who have died.

On October 4, NCDHHS experienced technical issues which prevented some laboratory data files from being processed in the NC COVID reporting system. As a result, data reported on Oct. 5 are somewhat higher.

The statewide positive test rate was 7.9 percent in today’s report.

Hospitalizations rose to 1,013 statewide, from 971 in Monday’s NCDHHS report.

Phase 3 reopening began at 5 pm Friday.

Mecklenburg

The NCDHHS reported 108 new cases in Mecklenburg County today, down from 139 new cases in Monday’s report. The cumulative total is now 29,701 county-wide.

The NCDHHS today reported one new Mecklenburg COVID-19 death. The total now stands at 363.

Mecklenburg coronavirus tests are coming back positive at the rate of 4.4 percent, below the NCDHHS 5 percent target.

North Mecklenburg

Cornelius: 0 new cases, total 570. Total/cumulative deaths remain at 16.

Davidson: 2 new cases, total 312. Total/cumulative deaths remain at 6.

Huntersville: 12 new cases, total 1,048. Total/cumulative deaths remain at 13.