ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County has now had more than 3,900 total cases of COVID-19, though daily numbers seem to be slowing down.
The Health Department on Monday reported 42 coronavirus tests have returned a positive result in the past three days, bringing the overall total to 3,902. That averages out to 14 new cases per day since Saturday. There were 29 new cases reported on Friday.
The number of active cases currently stands at 269 after hitting a record high of 504 less than a month ago on Jan. 14.
Richmond County Schools (as of 2:36 p.m.) reported that three students — one virtual student each from East Rockingham Elementary and Richmond Early College High School and one virtual student from Rockingham Middle — and five staff members — one each from East Rockingham, Washington Street, West Rockingham, Rockingham Middle and Richmond Senior — have tested positive.
Students returned to the classroom last week following a 5-2 decision by the Richmond County Board of Education.
Statewide daily COVID numbers have been on a decline in recent weeks, dropping to 3,084 on Monday, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Six days this month have seen fewer than 5,000 new cases, including Feb. 2 which had fewer than 3,000 for the first time since Dec. 1.
COVID-related hospitalizations also continue a steady drop, with 2,339 reported Feb. 7. On Monday, the Health Department reported 16 county residents were in a hospital after being diagnosed with the virus.
On Feb. 5, FirstHealth reported that 55 of its 376 patients (14.6%) were COVID-positive. That number reached 102 (29.4%) on Jan. 18. Scotland Memorial Hospital on Monday had 21 COVID patients isolated.
Last week, DHHS credited measures taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus — hand washing, mask wearing and social distancing — for a decrease in flu cases this season.
According to DHHS, there have only been four flu deaths this season, compared to 186 last season and more than 200 the season before.
There are only 500 doses of the two-dose Moderna vaccine available in Richmond County for this week as the state waits for more supplies, FirstHealth announced last week.
DHHS reports that 499 people in Richmond County have received both doses of the vaccine, while 4,809 have received only the first dose. The doses are administered four weeks apart.
On Sunday, the Health Department reported two more COVID-related deaths, bringing the total to 79. There were 23 reported in January, the most of any month since the first was reported in April 2020. There have been 9,991 in North Carolina.
The new hours for the free drive-thru testing clinic behind the Health Department are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays.
Of all the tests performed in Richmond County, 28,849 have been negative.
