ROCKINGHAM — For the first time in more than a month, the Richmond County Health Department reported fewer than 10 cases of the coronavirus.
Only six new COVID-19 cases were reported Monday, which included test results over the weekend and Christmas Day. The Health Department reported 14 on Christmas Eve.
The last time fewer than 10 cases were reported was Nov. 24 with nine. This month, there have been 16 of the 19 reporting days with at least 20 positive cases.
There have been a total of 678 residents to test positive during the month of December — 300 cases are currently active.
The county has also recorded 21,407 negative test results since March, with 2,179 of the 2,528 who tested positive presumed to be recovered.
The state has also seen a recent drop in cases over the holidays, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, with numbers dropping from the second-highest record of 7,703 on Dec. 24 to 6,345 on Dec. 25 to 5,371 on Dec. 26 and 2,898 on Dec. 27, before rising slightly to 3,888 on Monday.
Sunday’s number was the lowest since Dec. 1 and only the second time this month the daily total has been fewer than 3,000. Twenty days have seen new case totals in excess of 5,000.
The lower test results could be attributed to less testing. The drive-thru clinic at the Health Department was closed Dec. 24 and 25. However, DHHS reports that more than 75,000 tests were performed Dec. 24.
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 when 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.
DEATHS
Following the RO’s last report on Dec. 23, the Health Department reported the county’s 49th COVID-related death.
According to a press release, the individual died in a local hospital.
That makes 37 who have died in a hospital, while eight have passed away at a healthcare facility and four have died outside of a healthcare setting.
So far there have been nine COVID-related deaths in December. Six deaths were reported in November and 15 in October. The county’s first death attributed to the coronavirus was announced on April 10.
The race and gender breakdown is as follows: eight African American females, six African American males, two American Indian males, 18 Caucasian females and 14 Caucasian males and one “other race” female.
It is not known if any of the patients had underlying conditions.
All patients have been between the ages of 31 and 95: 18 have been 80 or older; 12 have been in their 70s; 14 in their 60s; four in their 50s; and one who was 31.
As of Dec. 28, there have been 6,561 COVID-related deaths in the state, according to DHHS.
The death totals for surrounding counties, according to recent local and state statistics, are: 78 in Stanly; 77 in Moore; 60 in Chesterfield; 52 in Scotland; 46 in Montgomery; 34 in Hoke; 27 in Marlboro; and 23 in Anson.
Johns Hopkins University reports (as of 8:40 p.m. Dec. 28) there have been 334,695 (more than 10,000 since Dec. 23) COVID-related deaths in the U.S. and 1,772,488 globally.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
The number of North Carolina residents being treated for COVID-19 has steadily risen over the past month, setting new records almost daily.
As of Dec. 27, there were a record 3,192 hospitalizations statewide, according to DHHS. The Health Department reported 11 hospitalizations on Monday and FirstHealth reports that 90 of its 365 patients (24.7%) are COVID-positive.
BY THE NUMBERS
The number of local cases per age group are as follows (includes recoveries):
- 0-18 – 377 (+4)
- 19-30 – 406 (+1)
- 31-40 – 346 (+2)
- 41-50 – 443 (+5)
- 51-64 – 516 (+2)
- 65-older – 440 (+6)
(+ Denotes increase since Dec. 23)
The total number of cases per ZIP code are as follows:
- Rockingham – 1,372 (167 active)
- Hamlet – 736 (89 active)
- Ellerbe – 212 (24 active)
- Hoffman – 170 (14 active)
- Mount Gilead – 13 (1 active)
- Marston – 24 (5 active)
- Jackson Springs – 1 (0 active)
The total numbers (including recoveries) for surrounding counties are as follows:
- Mecklenburg – 60,618 (other counties to top 10,000 are Wake, Guilford, Forsyth, Durham, Alamance, Cumberland, Gaston, Pitt, Johnston, Cabarrus, Catawba, and Union)
- Union* – 11,910
- Stanly – 4,161
- Montgomery – 1,868
- Anson – 1,380
- Moore – 4,667 (549 active)
- Hoke – 2,690
- Scotland – 2,472
- Robeson – 9,434 (more than higher-populated counties New Hanover and Buncombe)
All numbers are from DHHS except Moore, which are from the local health department, as there has been a discrepancy with the state.
Tyrrell County, the smallest by population, remains the only one of the state’s 100 counties to have fewer than 200 cases with 165.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control is reporting (as of Dec. 26) 2,282 total cases in Chesterfield County and 1,46 in Marlboro County.
