The number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the past week in Denton County was 4% lower than the number confirmed the week before.

Denton County saw 944 new positive cases confirmed by molecular or antigen test since Oct. 26. In the week before, the number of new confirmed cases was 988.

Denton County began reporting antigen-test results Oct. 6 in addition to molecular, or PCR, tests. These new tests add to officials' understanding of how the virus has spread throughout the county over the course of the pandemic. Despite the slight drop in new cases throughout most of the county, more people were known to have an active case of the virus Nov. 2 in Lewisville, Flower Mound and Highland Village than did the week before. One Highland Village resident died in the past week after contracting the disease.

Here is how the cases break down in each of those three cities.

• Lewisville: 368 active cases, 2,216 recovered cases, 16 deaths
• Flower Mound: 188 active cases, 836 recovered cases, 1 death
• Highland Village: 50 active cases, 168 recovered cases, 4 deaths

The numbers of confirmed cases are partly dependent on the number of tests administered, which is why the state tracks positivity rate as one of its key indicators.

The state's weekly positivity rate hit a record high of 24% as of Aug. 11 and has recently come down closer to 7%. The rate is averaged over the previous seven days and calculates the ratio of positive new cases compared with the number of tests conducted.

Gov. Greg Abbott has previously said that a rate of 10% or more is cause for concern. Here is a look at the rate since early April.