ROCKINGHAM — Three more Richmond County residents have passed away from complications related to COVID-19.
The Richmond County Health Department reported late Monday afternoon that the three deaths occurred within the past 72 hours.
The county’s COVID-related death toll now stands at 106 since the first was reported in April of 2020.
There have now been 53 COVID-related deaths in the county so far this year, including 13 in February and 23 in January. Nine deaths have been reported since June 28, including four last week.
According to the Health Department, the race and gender breakdown is as follows: 18 African American females, 16 African American males, two “other race” females, one “other race” male, two Hispanic females, two American Indian males, 31 Caucasian females and 34 Caucasian males.
All patients have been between the ages of 31 and 95: 29 have been 80 or older; 30 have been in their 70s; 30 in their 60s; 13 in their 50s; three in their 40s and one who was 31.
Based on previous reports, two of the recent deaths were of Caucasian women and one was that of a Caucasian man. Two were also at least 80 years old, the other in their 50s.
Of the county’s 106 deaths, 78 have been at a hospital, 21 have passed away in another healthcare facility and five have died outside of a health setting.
Two of the most recent deaths were in a hospital and one was in another healthcare facility.
On July 28, The Health Department reported 113 new cases of COVID-19 for the most recent week, with 13 hospitalized. The next report will be issued Aug. 4.
Daily statewide cases remained higher than 3,000 for three days before dropping back to 2,190 on Monday. Cases have climbed over the past month, from 208 on June 30 to a peak of 3,302 on Aug. 1.
COVID-related hospitalizations have also risen sharply from 373 on July 3 to 1,359 on Aug. 1 — 80 more than July 31.
The Richmond County government also announced Monday afternoon that “anyone entering a county building should have on a face mask always covering mouth and nose.” Even those wearing a face shield must also wear a mask.
Last week, Gov. Roy Cooper announced that the state would start requiring vaccination verification and those not vaccinated would be required to wear a mask and get tested weekly.
“Until more people get the vaccine, we will continue living with the very real threat of serious disease, and we will continue to see more dangerous and contagious variants like Delta,” Cooper said.
The Health Department has altered its testing hours to 8 a.m.-3 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Health Department.
The hours were increased last week because of a higher recent demand as new cases continue to rise again.
According to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, 92% of the new COVID-19 cases since May have been in those not fully vaccinated.
As of Thursday, 35% of the county’s population has been fully vaccinated, just more than half of the county’s 66% goal.
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.
(Correction has been made to the total number of deaths in the eighth paragraph. 3:30 p.m. 8-3-21)
