ROCKINGHAM — More children have tested positive in the past week than any adult age group, according to the latest update from the Richmond County Health Department.
Since the Aug. 25 update, there have been 54 cases among those 18 years old or younger.
Richmond County Schools reports there have been 45 students to test positive since classes started back last week, including two on Wednesday — one each at L.J. Bell Elementary and Richmond Senior High School.
The high school has had the most positive cases (12), followed by Richmond Early College High School (6) and Hamlet Middle (5).
There have also been five school staff members and two from the Central Office to test positive.
The only schools with no cases so far are East Rockingham Elementary and Ashley Chapel Educational Center.
Increases among the other age groups are as follows:
- 19-30 – 46
- 31-40 – 48
- 41-50 – 38
- 51-64 – 35
- 65-older – 19
The new month started with 36 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the Health Department. That number was down from 51 the previous day.
Many have wondered why the Health Department stopped reporting the number of active cases.
The RO asked Interim Health Director Cheryl Speight on Wednesday and she provided the following answer: “To determine Active cases, you need to know how many have fully recovered. To determine recovered, we would have to know the condition of each case throughout their illness and know when they recovered which is something we are unable to provide with high numbers of cases.”
The new cases bring the county’s total since April 2020 to 6,064, or about 13.5% of the population. There have also been 53,038 negative test results since the pandemic began.
Of the 752 people who tested positive from July 24-Aug. 23, Speight said 87 were fully vaccinated, roughly 11.5%.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday reported 7,248 new cases across the state — nearly 2,000 more than the previous day. It marks the 18th day since Aug. 6 with more than 5,000 cases.
Daily statewide cases topped out during the summer surge at 8,620 on Aug. 26. Locally, there were 873 cases reported from July 29-Aug. 31 — an average of 25.7 per day.
Statewide hospitalizations hit a new recent high of 3,757 on Tuesday, according to NCDHHS.
FirstHealth reported Wednesday that, of its 97 COVID-positive patients:
- 21 have been vaccinated, 76 are unvaccinated
- All but two of the 19 patients in ICU are unvaccinated
- All but two of the 14 patients on ventilators are unvaccinated
- Scotland Memorial Hospital currently has 28 COVID patients
The Health Department reported Wednesday that 16,798 residents have been vaccinated — an increase of 49 from the previous day — accounting for 37% of the county’s total population and 44% of the eligible population (12 years and up).
According to NCDHHS, 58% of the state’s eligible population is fully vaccinated.
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.
