ROCKINGHAM — As COVID-related hospitalizations across North Carolina continue to rise, Gov. Roy Cooper is calling on local leaders to consider “additional enforcement measures.”
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported that, as of Monday, there were a record 2,735 patients battling the coronavirus in hospitals across the state.
There were 18 Richmond County residents hospitalized on Tuesday, according to the Richmond County Health Department — one fewer than the day before.
The number of statewide hospitalizations has been on the rise over the past month, increasing almost daily.
FirstHealth reports that 70 of its 384 patients (18.2%) are COVID-positive. Scotland Memorial hospital has 32.
The Health Department reported 33 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of active cases to 324.
There have been 455 new cases reported in the first half of December. As a comparison, there were 403 cases for the month of November and 401 in October. Only one day, Dec. 11, had fewer than 20 cases.
The state, meanwhile, saw 5,236, up nearly 500 from the previous day. The only time the statewide daily case count has been below 4,000 this month was Dec. 1. Six days have seen counts in excess of 6,000.
With such an uptick in cases, Cooper — along with Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen and Public Safety Secretary Erik Hooks — wrote a letter to municipal leaders on Friday asking them to consider establishing their own penalties for non-compliance of his orders.
“Now more than ever we need help with enforcement from our local partners to fight this raging pandemic,” Cooper said in a press release. “Taking steps now to protect our communities by enforcing safety precautions will help reduce transmission of the virus and save lives.”
According to the governor’s office:
A recent advisory opinion from the North Carolina Department of Justice concludes that local governments may unquestionably enforce local ordinances that establish civil penalties for violations of the Governor’s COVID-19 Executive Orders.
Good public health is vitally important to maintaining a safe and secure environment,” said Hooks. “Public safety professionals at all levels of government are essential to supporting the public health sector of our state and nation’s critical infrastructure.”
(Note: See both the letter and advisory opinion attached at the bottom of this story.)
The Health Department is offering free COVID testing in the lot behind the building until Dec. 31. Testing will run from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday — except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. There is also free testing this week at Ellerbe Middle School parking lot from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
However, both sites will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 16 due to the threat of inclement weather, the Health Department announced Tuesday.
Each site is closed for lunch from noon-12:30 p.m.
Register for testing by visiting www.lhi.care and following the directions at the top or by calling 877-562-4850.
