Home Local News 44 new COVID cases reported in Richmond County

44 new COVID cases reported in Richmond County

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ROCKINGHAM — After five consecutive days of reporting fewer than 20 new COVID-19 cases, the Richmond County Health Department announced more than 40.

Tuesday’s update from the Health Department revealed that 44 more Richmond County residents have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Although 42 were reported Feb. 8 and 40 on Feb. 15, both comprised a three-day total. The last single day with more than 40 cases was Wednesday, Feb. 3, when 52 were reported.

Even with the positive tests, the number of active cases is 124 — fewer than the 137 last Friday.

Richmond County Schools reported only one new case, that of a staff member at Richmond Senior High School.

While local numbers were higher than in recent days, the number of statewide cases dropped to 1,514, the lowest point in months, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

COVID-related hospitalizations also continue a downward trend, dropping by three on Monday from the previous day to 1,563.

Local hospitalizations increased from four to six. FirstHealth’s number of COVID-positve patients also increased by two to 27 of its 362 census (7.5%).

On Monday, DHHS released its updated COVID-19 County Alert System showing only 27 red counties, or those with critical community spread of the virus. Richmond was downgraded to an orange county, while Hoke, Moore, Montgomery and Scotland remained red.

DHHS reports that 6,308 people in Richmond County have received the first of the two-dose Moderna vaccine, and 2,426 have been administered both. The doses are given about four weeks apart.

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Teachers, other school personnel and childcare workers were slated to start receiving the vaccine on Monday.

To sign up for the vaccine locally, call 910-417-3030 and leave your name, date of birth and phone number. Local health officials ask that callers not leave multiple messages.

Vaccinations aren’t restricted by residency.

To schedule an appointment in Scotland County, call 910-291-7654 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Across the state line, McLeod Health Cheraw will also be holding a vaccination clinic from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Fisher Hill Community Baptist Church, 4282 West Market St. Ext., Cheraw, South Carolina.

We will be administering second doses mainly but we will begin offering some of the limited first doses … until we run out,” said Arielle Williams Miles, director of communications and public information. “We also cannot make appointments at this point in time so the first doses are all first come, first serve in the walk-in clinic at the church.”

The clinic is available for health care workers, first responders and individuals 65 and older and a work badge or photo ID must be provided.

The new hours for the free drive-thru testing clinic behind the Health Department are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays. However, times may be altered due to weather conditions.

According to the Health Department, 30,932 test results have been negative and 4,133 have been positive. Richmond County has also recorded 89 COVID-related deaths.

 



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