ROCKINGHAM — Local health officials Monday morning announced Richmond County’s 18th COVID-related death.
Health and Human Services Director Dr. Tommy Jarrell said the Health Department was notified that the county resident died Sunday, Sept. 27 in a nearby hospital.
This makes the sixth for the month of September. The others were reported on Sept. 11, 14,15, 21 and 22.
The county’s first death attributed to COVID-19 was reported on April 10; the second was on April 17; the third on May 30; the fourth on June 8; the fifth on June 11; the sixth on June 29; the seventh on June 30; the eighth on July 21; the ninth on Aug. 2; the 10th on Aug. 27; the 11th on Aug. 28; and the 12th on Aug. 13.
Most patients have died in a hospital, except for two: who died at a congregate living facility in the county; and one whose location was not given.
It is not known if any of the patients had underlying conditions.
All that is known about the 17 patients is that they ranged in age from 31 to 95 and include four African American women, three African American men, five Caucasian females and six caucasian men.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported Sunday that there had been 3,441 COVID-related deaths statewide. According to Johns Hopkins University, there have been 204,762 COVID-related deaths in the U.S. and 998,380 globally.
Richmond County broke 1,000 total cases last week, bringing the total to 1,015 on Saturday, the last day numbers were reported.
Also on Saturday, the Health Department reported three new cases — the fewest per diem cases this month. A total of 79 cases were reported last week.
The Health Department has reported 325 cases for the month of September. September has had the highest number of cases since the first was reported in early April. Richmond was one of the last 10 of North Carolina’s 100 counties to report a case.
Updated 1:23 p.m. to correct the month.
