ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County’s COVID-related death toll has now hit 100.
The Richmond County Health Department announced the latest death just after noon on Monday.
This makes the third death within the past month and the second within a week. The most recent death was reported July 22.
According to the Health Department, the race and gender breakdown is as follows: 18 African American females, 15 African American males, two “other race” females, one “other race” male, two Hispanic females, two American Indian males, 29 Caucasian females and 31 Caucasian males.
All patients have been between the ages of 31 and 95: 27 have been 80 or older; 28 have been in their 70s; 30 in their 60s; 11 in their 50s; three in their 40s and one who was 31.
It appears the latest death is that of an African American man in his 60s who died in a hospital, based on previous reports.
Of the county’s 100 deaths, 75 have been at a hospital, 20 have passed away in another healthcare facility and five have died outside of a health setting.
There have now been 47 COVID-related deaths in the county so far this year, including 13 in February and 23 in January. There were also 15 in October and 13 in December of 2020.
According to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, the state has recorded a total 13,580 COVID-related deaths as of Monday, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. There have been 160 in the past four days — compared to 142 from June 28 to July 22.
Last week, DHHS statistics revealed that Richmond County was the only one of the state’s 100 to be coded red in the COVID-19 County Alert System.
“(The) main reason for the spike in numbers here and across the nation is unvaccinated people and the highly contagious nature of the Delta virus,” Interim Health Director Cheryl Speight said in an email Friday.
Speight also told the RO that there have been 28 breakthrough cases — when patients are diagnosed with the coronavirus after 14 days of being fully vaccinated since July 1.
Those cases are out of the 15,636 residents who have been vaccinated, “so we aren’t talking about a very large percentage,” Speight said.
As of Monday, 37% of county residents were fully vaccinated, short of the Health Department’s Goal of 66%. Comparatively, 46% of state residents are vaccinated.
All three vaccines with emergency use authorization in the U.S. are available in Richmond County. However, local health officials are trying to reserve the Pfizer vaccine for teenagers, as it is currently the only one authorized for use on those aged 12 and up. Moderna is now seeking the same approval.
Vaccines are available at the Health Department Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Fridays from 8-11 a.m.
There is no charge and no appointment necessary.
