ROCKINGHAM — Two more Richmond County residents have died due to complications from COVID-19, according to the Health Department.
A press release issued late Monday morning gave no indication of when the deaths occurred.
The latest deaths make seven for the month of September and 133 since the first was reported in April 2020.
According to the Health Department, the updated race and gender breakdown is as follows: 21 African American females, 23 African American males, three “other race” females, one “other race” male, two Hispanic females, two Hispanic males, two American Indian males, 41 Caucasian females and 38 Caucasian males.
All patients have been between the ages of 31 and 95: 34 have been 80 or older; 33 have been in their 70s; 37 in their 60s; 19 in their 50s; eight in their 40s and two in their 30s.
Of the county’s deaths, 103 have been at a hospital, 23 have passed away in another healthcare facility and seven have died outside of a health setting.
Based on previous reports, the recent deaths were of an African American man and a Hispanic man, both in their 50s. Both reportedly died in a hospital.
North Carolina has seen 15,247 COVID-related deaths — 353 since Sept. 8 — according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.
The Health Department also reported 108 new COVID cases over the weekend. That brings the monthly total to 473 in just less than two weeks and the pandemic total to 6,501.
As of 3:15 p.m., Richmond County Schools’ COVID Tracker was reporting 33 new cases: five school staff members; and 29 students.
The daily student case count includes:
- 10 at Richmond Senior High
- Four each at East Rockingham Elementary, Cordova Middle and Ninth Grade Academy
- Two each at Mineral Springs Elementary and Ellerbe Middle
- One each at Fairview Heights and West Rockingham Elementary, and Rockingham Middle
Both Richmond Early College High School and Cordova Middle had two staff-related cases and the other was at L.J. Bell Elementary.
Since classes started back, Richmond Senior has had the most student-related cases with 35, followed by:
- 23 – Hamlet Middle
- 13 – East Rockingham, NGA
- 10 – Mineral Springs, Washington Street Elementary
- All other schools have had fewer than 10 cases.
With five cases, Mineral Springs has had the most staff-related cases. There have also been four in Central Services; three at Washington Street; two each at East Rockingham, Fairview Heights, West Rockingham, Cordova Middle, REaCH, and Richmond Senior; and one each at L.J. Bell, Monroe Avenue, and Rockingham Middle.
The COVID Tracker is updated continuously and may differ by the end of the day. (Note: it was updated while this story was being written.)
Statewide cases hit 11,337 on Saturday but dropped to 5,346 on Monday, according to NCDHHS.
Hospitalizations have seen a slight decline from more than 3,800 on Sept. 8 to 3,514 on Sept. 12.
On Monday, FirstHealth reported a total of 86 patients from more than 13 counties hospitalized with COVID. Of those, 15 were vaccinated and 71 were not. Four of the 15 COVID patients in ICU are vaccinated and 11 are not, and seven of the eight patients on a ventilator are unvaccinated, according to an infographic.
According to Interim Health Director Cheryl Speight, 16 students and one adult were vaccinated during a clinic Saturday at Richmond Senior High School.
So far, 17,391 county residents have received a vaccine, according to the Health Department.
The Pfizer vaccine is being reserved for those under 18 as it is the only one authorized for that age group. Those 18 or older are being given the Moderna shot.
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.
