ROCKINGHAM — There appears to be another spike in new positive COVID-19 tests in Richmond County and across the state with 100 new local cases in the past two days.
The Richmond County Health Department reported 47 new cases on Wednesday and 53 on Thursday. The latter is the most in one day since 58 were reported on Sept. 20.
On Wednesday, there were 251 active cases across the county, according to the Health Department.
“Due to extreme numbers of COVID testing noted in our county this week, the testing site at the Richmond County Health Department will be opened for drive-thru testing behind the building Friday, Dec. 31, and Saturday, Jan. 1.,” Health Director Cheryl Speight said in a press release Thursday evening. “Hours of testing will be from 8-5 each day. No appointments or referrals are needed, and testing is free.”
So far there have been at least 560 cases reported by the Health Department this month. (There was no report on Dec. 3.)
Even with the spike, the monthly total is lower than the 765 by Dec. 30, 2020.
The Health Department has not listed the age breakdown regarding cases since Dec. 8., when children 18 or younger accounted for the highest number of positive cases.
When Richmond County Schools last updated its COVID tracker on Dec. 17, there had been 425 cases among students this school year — with 21% of those being at Richmond Senior High School.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday reported the highest one-day total since the pandemic began in March of 2020 with more than 18,000 new cases. The previous record of 11,581 was set in January.
Richmond County was one of the last dozen of the state’s 100 counties to get its first case in April 2020.
The number of statewide COVID-related hospitalizations has more than doubled since Nov. 28, hitting a recent high of 2,258 on Wednesday. However, it should be noted that hospitalizations remained more than 2,700 from mid-August to early October.
The Health Department reported 13 residents were hospitalized on Wednesday. FirstHealth on Thursday reported that 51 of its 404 patients (12.6%) were COVID-positive.
Meanwhile, state and local officials continue to encourage residents to get vaccinated.
According to the Health Department, 20,562 county residents have been vaccinated, accounting for 46% of the entire population and 53% of those 12 and older. There was no increase in vaccinations between the reports issued Wednesday and Thursday.
Vaccinations have been authorized for children as young as 5 and booster shots are now available for all vaccinated adults.
COVID vaccinations and boosters are available at the Health Department from 8 a.m. -5 p.m. Monday-Thursday 8-5, and 8-11 a.m. on Fridays with no appointment needed.
