ROCKINGHAM — The COVID-related death toll from last month has risen by one.
Health and Human Services Director Dr. Tommy Jarrell announced Monday morning that the Richmond County Health Department was informed that another resident with the coronavirus died on Sept. 22.
This patient reportedly died in a nearby healthcare facility, according to Jarrell.
“Please join us with your thoughts and prayers for this family,” he said.
Jarrell said Monday he was unsure why it took so long to be reported.
The latest announcement brings the county’s total to 22.
There were also six other deaths reported last month on Sept. 11, 14,15, 21, 22 and 28.
The Health Department reported three deaths on Oct. 3.
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, two in a healthcare facility and one outside a healthcare setting, reports show.
Jarrell said those who have died ranged in age from 31-95 and included four African American females, four African American males, six Caucasian females and eight Caucasian males.
Judging by previous reports, the most recent reported death was of an African American male.
Jarrell also provided a breakdown of the age groups, saying that eight have been 60-69 years old; six 80 or older; six 70-79; and one each in the 30s and 50s.
It is not known if any of the patients had underlying conditions.
According to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, there have now been 3,634 COVID-related deaths across the state as of Oct. 4. Johns Hopkins University reports there have been 209,737 COVID-related deaths in the U.S. and 1,037,914 globally.
The Health Department reported nine new cases on Saturday and 10 new cases on Friday, making 33 in the first three days of October.
Of the 1,081 cases the county has seen since April, 950 have recovered and there were 111 active cases on Saturday, with eight hospitalized. (Note: The update was published prior to the announcement of the latest death.)
Of all the tests performed, 10,401 have been negative.
September saw the most cases in the county (358) for one month: 49 the first week; 106; the second week; 91 the third week; 79 the fourth week; and 33 this week.
In September, the county also reported its highest one-day total (36 on Sept. 21), which included 19 cases at Morrison Correctional Institution in Hoffman, and six COVID-related deaths.
