ROCKINGHAM — Another dozen Richmond County residents have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Richmond County Health Department reported in its May 21 update that there were 12 new cases for the county, bringing the total to 132. That makes 31 new cases since last Thursday’s update.
The number of children (those under the age of 18) nearly doubled from six to 10 from the previous day.
There are 17 cases in both the 19-30 and 31-40 age groups; 27 who are aged 41-50; 36 who are aged 51-64; and 25 who are 65 or older.
The number of those 41-50 was previously reported earlier this week by the Health Department as 28.
Late Wednesday, Richmond County Schools reported that a parent who attended the virtual graduation ceremony at Richmond Senior High School earlier in the day had tested positive for the coronavirus.
With the social distancing measures being taken, school officials said they do not believe anyone was put at risk.
Four patients are currently hospitalized and 80 are under home isolation, according to the Health Department, which also reports that 46 have recovered.
Richmond County was one of the last 12 counties to report a case, with the first announcement made on April 7.
The Health Department also reports that 850 of those tested have received a negative result.
The number of cases per ZIP code are as follows:
- Rockingham – 82 (29 recoveries)
- Hamlet – 43 (14 recoveries)
- Ellerbe – 5 (two recoveries)
- Hoffman – 2 ( one recovered)
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported a total of 20,860 cases statewide, an increase of 738 from Wednesday.
However, the state only shows 130 cases in Richmond County and 120 in Moore County, whereas the Moore County Health Department reports 183. There has been a discrepancy for weeks between numbers reported by Moore County and the state, with the county having a much higher number.
The discrepancy between the state and Richmond County is likely due to DHHS pulling its numbers at 5 a.m. and the county releasing its report between 1 and 2 p.m.
There have been 716 deaths attributed to COVID-19, according to DHHS, including two in Richmond County, 10 in Moore County, three in Montgomery County and four in Stanly County.
Mecklenburg County, the most populated in the state, has had 2,894 cases and 70 related deaths. The only other counties with more than 1,000 cases are Wake and Durham.
As of May 18, DHHS estimates that 11,637 North Carolinians have recovered from a COVID-19 infection, which is more than half of those who have tested positive.
Fifty-three of the state’s 100 counties have had fewer than 100 positive results, including 13 with 10 or fewer reported cases.
The total number of cases (including recoveries) for surrounding counties are as follows:
- Union – 370
- Anson – 50
- Stanly – 34
- Montgomery – 74
- Hoke -173
- Scotland – 59
- Robeson – 624
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control last updated its numbers on May 19, reporting 105 cases in Chesterfield County and 80 in Marlboro County.
Health officials there estimate there could be hundreds more who may be infected and have not been tested.
