ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County had an average of 27 cases per day over the weekend, according to the Monday update from the Health Department.
Local health officials reported a total of 81 new cases since the previous update, bringing the overall total since the first case was reported in April 2020 to 5,977.
The Health Department has not given a number for active cases since earlier this month.
Richmond County Schools has seen infections in five school staff members, two from Central Services, and 38 students since classes started back last week.
Nineteen students were reported to be COVID-positive on Monday:
- One each at Mineral Springs Elementary and Ellerbe Middle
- Two at Richmond Early College High School
- Three each at Rockingham and Hamlet Middle
- Four at the Ninth Grade Academy
- Five at Richmond Senior High
Only three schools — East Rockingham Elementary, Cordova Middle and Ashley Chapel Educational Center — have not had any cases so far this school year.
“The delta variant has quickly become the dominant COVID-19 variant around the world, the U.S., and North Carolina,” health officials said in a Facebook post Monday afternoon. “Data show that the delta variant is roughly twice as contagious as the initial strain of COVID-19, and people infected with it are more likely to need hospitalization.”
But infection numbers aren’t much higher than they were last winter.
There have been 822 new cases since July 29. The Health Department reported 806 in December and 961 Jan. 1-29.
But because of rising case numbers, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office announced in a Facebook post Aug. 23 that on-site visitation was being suspended “to help prevent the spread and exposure of COVID-19 to both inmates and staff.”
Also last week, the Rockingham Police Department announced that it would be taking as many reports as possible by phone.
For the second time this month, FirstHealth reported 100 patients (27%) in its hospitals were COVID-positive. Of those:
- 20 have been vaccinated, 80 are unvaccinated
- All but one of the 22 patients in ICU are unvaccinated
- All but one of the 16 patients on ventilators are unvaccinated
After hitting a recent high of 8.620 on Aug. 26, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services has reported a drop in the subsequent days:
- Aug. 27 – 8,105
- Aug. 28 – 7,594
- Aug. 29 – 6,844
- Aug. 30 – 4,569
COVID-related hospitalizations across the state have also seen a slight decrease since topping out at 3,666 on Aug. 26:
- Aug. 27 – 3,591
- Aug. 28 – 3,512
- Aug. 29 – 3,509
The Health Department reported Monday that 16,616 residents have been vaccinated — an increase of 64 since Friday.
Tuesday is the last day to qualify for a $100 Summer Card for getting vaccinated, DHHS reported.
Because of limited supplies of the Pfizer vaccine, which is the only one authorized for kids aged 12-17, Interim Health Director Cheryl Speight said the Health Department is limiting it to the younger population and giving the Moderna shot to adults. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is no longer available through the Health Department.
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.
