ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond County Health Department on Monday reported another COVID-related death and more than 40 new cases from the weekend.
The latest death brings the county’s overall total to 139 since April of 2020 and makes the second for the month of October. There were 11 COVID-related deaths in September, 13 in February and 23 in both January and August.
According to the Health Department, the updated race and gender breakdown is as follows: 21 African American females, 24 African American males, three “other race” females, one “other race” male, two Hispanic females, two Hispanic males, two American Indian males, 43 Caucasian females and 41 Caucasian males.
All patients have been between the ages of 31 and 95: 35 have been 80 or older; 33 have been in their 70s; 40 in their 60s; 19 in their 50s; eight in their 40s and four in their 30s.
Of the county’s deaths, 108 have been at a hospital, 24 have passed away in another healthcare facility and seven have died outside of a health setting.
Based on previous reports, the most recent death was that of a Caucasian man in his 60s who died in a hospital.
North Carolina has recorded 16,719 COVID-related deaths — 114 since Oct. 1 — according to the state Department of Health and Human Services
When compared to the other five counties with similar populations (43,000-48,000) Richmond ranks the highest, however, McDowell County has seen the largest increase in COVID-related deaths in the past two weeks. Records with NCDHHS show the following death totals:
- Vance – 93 (+1)
- Beaufort – 121 (+11)
- McDowell – 112 (+38)
- Stokes – 99 (+8)
- Jackson – 69 (+6)
(Additions in parentheses are since Sept. 17. State records may not reflect county records, as Richmond is only shown to have 134. During the same time period, Richmond has had 5.)
Neighboring Scotland County, which has a population nearly 10,000 less than that of Richmond, has had 131 as of Oct. 1, according to Scotland Health Care System.
The Health Department also reported 44 new cases — nearly twice the number from the previous weekend — with the daily average returning to less than 15% .
Richmond County Schools’ COVID Tracker — which had been zeroed out by 5:30 p.m. — showed an increase of 18 school-related cases since Friday, including 14 among students.
So far this school year there have been 271 student-related cases all 15 schools:
- 51 – Richmond Senior High
- 34 – Ninth Grade Academy
- 33 – Hamlet Middle
- 21 – East Rockingham Elementary
- 19 – Mineral Springs Elementary
- 16 – Washington Street Elementary
- 15 – Cordova, Rockingham Middle
- 13- Monroe Avenue, L.J. Bell Elementary
- 12- Richmond Early College High School
- 11 – Ellerbe Middle
- 8 – Fairview Heights, West Rockingham Elementary
- 1 – Ashley Chapel Educational Center
There have also been 43 staff-related cases:
- 6 – Mineral Springs
- 4 – Washington Street, Monroe Avenue, Richmond Senior, Central Office
- 3 – East Rockingham, L.J. Bell; Cordova, Rockingham Middle; REaCH
- 2 – Fairview Heights, West Rockingham
- 1 – Hamlet Middle, NGA
The only two schools with no staff-related cases are Ellerbe Middle and Ashley Chapel.
Statewide daily cases continue a downward trend with NCDHHS reporting 2,219 on Monday — dipping below 2,500 for the first time since early August.
COVID-related hospitalizations also continue to drop, with 2,690 reported for Oct. 3. The previous day, there were 2,677 COVID patients in N.C. hospitals. It’s the first time that number has been less than 2,700 since Aug. 15.
FirstHealth reported Monday that 39 of its 383 patients (10%) are COVID-positive. Of those, eight (20%) are vaccinated and the remaining 31 are unvaccinated. Also, all but one of the four ICU patients are unvaccinated, as are both of those on a ventilator.
As of Monday, 18,754 county residents have been vaccinated, according to the Health Department, which has a goal of 66%. That’s an increase of 420 from Friday.
Testing is available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m at the Health Department and a secondary site opened last week at Cole Auditorium on the campus of Richmond Community College and will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Both the vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna are available through the Health Department, where they are available Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Fridays from 8-11 a.m. There is no charge and no appointment necessary.
