ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond County Health Department on Tuesday reported two new COVID-related deaths and more than 50 new positive cases.
The two new deaths were announced at 4 p.m., bringing the cumulative total since April of 2020 to 126.
According to the Health Department, the updated race and gender breakdown is as follows: 21 African American females, 19 African American males, three “other race” females, one “other race” male, two Hispanic females, one Hispanic male, two American Indian males, 41 Caucasian females and 36 Caucasian males.
All patients have been between the ages of 31 and 95: 34 have been 80 or older; 32 have been in their 70s; 37 in their 60s; 16 in their 50s; five in their 40s and two in their 30s.
Of the county’s deaths, 96 have been at a hospital, 23 have passed away in another healthcare facility and seven have died outside of a health setting.
Based on previous reports, one death was that of an African American man, the other of a Caucasian woman. Both died at a hospital; one was in their 50s, the other in their 40s.
There have now been 72 COVID-related deaths this year, including 13 in February and 23 in both January and August. Neighboring Scotland County had 15 COVID-related deaths this month, according to a spokesman.
Local deaths account for around 0.28% of the county’s population.
According to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, there have been 14,468 COVID-related deaths statewide — 316 since Saturday.
According to Johns Hopkins University, as of 6:35 p.m. Aug. 31, the U.S. leads the world’s nations in COVID-related deaths with 639,678, followed by Brazil with 579,574.
Two hours prior to the death announcement, the Health Department reported 51 new positive cases.
There have been 873 new cases since July 29, making August the second-highest month during the pandemic. The Health Department reported 806 in December 2020 and 961 Jan. 1-29.
Richmond County Schools has now had 45 students to test positive since classes began last week — including seven on Tuesday:
- Two each at Monroe Avenue Elementary and Cordova Middle
- One each at Washington Street Elementary and Richmond Senior High
The high school has had the most positive cases (11), followed by Richmond Early College High School (6) and Hamlet Middle (5).
There have also been five school staff members — two each at Fairview Heights and West Rockingham elementaries, and one at Monroe Avenue Elementary — and two Central Office employees to test positive.
Gov. Roy Cooper on Tuesday signed Senate Bill 654 which, in part, gives school districts in North Carolina the authority to make decisions on whether to switch individual schools or classrooms to remote learning.
Cooper also signed an executive order extending standing orders for testing and vaccinations.
“As our state’s COVID-19 metrics continue to move in the wrong direction, it is important that we continue to do all we can to get people tested and vaccinated,” Cooper said in a statement. “This order will help us do that and assist our Cabinet agencies in their efforts to keep employees safe.”
The governor also signed another order granting “regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations that provide direct assistance in support of emergency relief efforts related to COVID-19.”
DHHS reported 5,351 new cases across the state on Tuesday, making the 17th day since Aug. 6 with more than 5,000 cases. Daily statewide cases topped out at 8,620 on Aug. 26.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows all 50 states, plus the territories of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam have high transmission rates.
The territory of Palau has moderate transmission, and the Mariana Islands and Republic of Marshall Islands have low community transmission. There is no data for American Samoa or the Federated States of Micronesia.
Statewide COVID-related hospitalizations on Monday were at the third-highest point (3,612) within the past month.
FirstHealth reported that 106 of its 388 patients (27%) are COVID-positive. Of those:
- 21 have been vaccinated, 85 are unvaccinated
- All but two of the 20 patients in ICU are unvaccinated
- All but one of the 16 patients on ventilators are unvaccinated
The health system’s COVID patients are from more than 13 counties in North Carolina and surrounding states, according to an infographic.
A spokesman for Scotland Health Care System said Tuesday that Scotland Memorial Hospital had the highest inpatient census in the hospital’s 75-year history on Aug. 17 with 119 patients. On the same day, there were seven patients waiting for a room in the Emergency Department.
The hospital is only licensed for 104, but the public health emergency waiver allows the hospital to handle more, the spokesman said.
Of the 254 COVID hospitalizations since April, the spokesman said 241 (94.9%) of the patients were unvaccinated.
The Health Department reported Tuesday that 16,749 residents have been vaccinated — an increase of 133 from the previous day.
According to DHHS, 60 percent of the state’s adult population is fully vaccinated.
Because of limited supplies of the Pfizer vaccine, which is the only one authorized for kids aged 12-17, Interim Health Director Cheryl Speight said the Health Department is limiting it to the younger population and giving the Moderna shot to adults. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is no longer available through the Health Department.
Vaccines are available at the Health Department Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Fridays from 8-11 a.m. There is no charge and no appointment necessary.
