ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond County Health Department on Wednesday announced two COVID-related deaths.
According to a press release, both individuals died Tuesday in an unnamed healthcare facility.
There have been 14 COVID-positive patients to pass away in healthcare facilities, 39 in in hospital and three outside of a healthcare setting, according to local health officials.
So far, there have been three COVID-related deaths reported by the Health Department this year. The first patient died in a hospital Jan. 6.
The county has now had 56 COVID-related deaths since the first was reported in April. October has had the most with 15, followed by 13 in December.
The race and gender breakdown is as follows: nine African American females, eight African American males, one “other race” female, one Hispanic female, two American Indian males, 19 Caucasian females and 16 Caucasian males.
All patients have been between the ages of 31 and 95: 17 have been 80 or older; 17 have been in their 70s; 16 in their 60s; five in their 50s; and one who was 31.
Judging by past reports, one of the latest deaths was that of an African American male and the other was that of a Caucasian male. One was in his 70s and the other was in his 60s.
As of Jan. 8, there have been 7,745 COVID-related deaths in the state, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
When compared to other counties with similar populations (43,000-48,000) Richmond falls in the upper end of the middle.
DHHS records (which may not be up to date with county records) show the following death totals:
- Vance – 69
- Beaufort – 61 (including the mayor of Washington)
- McDowell – 39
- Stokes – 44
- Jackson – 19
Johns Hopkins University reports (as of 12:57 p.m. Jan. 13) there have been 381,790 COVID-related deaths in the U.S. and 1,969,331 globally.
The past two days, Richmond County has had 23 residents hospitalized with the coronavirus.
Health and Human Services Director Dr. Tommy Jarrell said Tuesday evening, while addressing the Richmond County Board of Education, the he was “deeply concerned” about the health of some of them.
The older population, he said, has a more difficult time fighting the virus than those who are younger and healthier.
Local statistics have not yet been released.
