ROCKINGHAM — While Richmond County Health officials say there are not yet any cases of COVID-19, the virus that has the world virtually shut down is getting closer to home.
Moore County is reporting its first case of the coronavirus.
The Moore County Health Department was notified of a positive test Wednesday by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, according to a press release.
The Health Department is not sharing any more information to protect the privacy of the patient.
“With increased testing, more cases are expected,” Moore County Health Director Robert Wittmann said in a statement. “We would advise all Moore County residents to continue to follow all recommended control measures to protect themselves and others from the virus.”
Moore County Health Department staff are monitoring the individual who tested positive and will follow up with anyone who is identified as a close contact, according to the release. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines “close contact” as being within six feet for 10 minutes or more.
Earlier in the day, Richmond County Health Director Dr. Tommy Jarrell said that 30 residents here had been tested. Of those, 19 results have returned negative.
NCDHHS has not yet updated its statewide numbers for the day to include the Moore County case.
As of 10:44 a.m. Wednesday, there were 63 cases of coronavirus in 18 counties across the state, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, with 1,850 tests having been completed.
Wake County has the most cases with 17, Durham County has jumped to a dozen and Mecklenburg has 11. Those are the only counties with more than 10 cases.
Harnett now has four cases, Chatham has three and Forsyth and Johnston counties have two each.
The other counties — Watauga, Guilford, Lincoln, Cabarrus, Iredell, Brusnwick, Onlsow, Craven, Wilson, Wayne and Sampson — each have one individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Moore County case would make at least 64.
Case monitoring by Johns Hopkins University shows North Carolina has 70 cases.
Despite not having any cases, two towns within 50 miles of Richmond County have instituted curfews, according to WPDE.
The small town of Gibson in Scotland County has issued a curfew, starting Wednesday, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and the Robeson County town of Fairmont has a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for children under 17, the television station reports.
