ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County has had more than 570 positive COVID cases so far this month.
On Thursday, the Health Department reported 42 new cases, bringing the monthly total to 572 and the overall number to 6,600 since the first case was reported in April of 2020.
Neighboring Scotland County, which has nearly 10,000 fewer people, has had 6,954 positive cases.
Richmond County Schools’ COVID Tracker showed 11 new cases for the day, including nine students and two school staff members.
East Rockingham Elementary had three cases and there was one case each reported at L.J. Bell and Monroe Avenue Elementary; Ellerbe, Hamlet and Rockingham Middle; and Richmond Senior High.
Of the staff-involved cases, one was at L.J. Bell and the other at Richmond Senior.
Since classes began, there have been 192 cases among students:
- 41- Richmond Senior
- 28 – Hamlet Middle
- 19 – Ninth Grade Academy
- 16 – East Rockingham Elementary
- 12 – Washington Street Elementary
- 11 – Mineral Springs Elementary, Richmond Early College High School
- 9 – Monroe Avenue Elementary, Cordova Middle
- 8 – Ellerbe and Rockingham Middle
- 7 – L.J. Bell Elementary
- 6 – Fairview Heights, West Rockingham Elementary
- 1- Ashley Chapel Educational Center
There have also been a total of 30 staff members to test positive:
- 6 – Mineral Springs
- 4 – Central Services
- 3 – Washington Street Elementary, Richmond Senior
- 2 – East Rockingham, Fairview Heights, L.J. Bell, West Rockingham Elementary; Cordova Middle; REaCH
- 1 – Monroe Avenue Elementary; Rockingham Middle
There have been no staff-related cases at Ellerbe Middle, Hamlet Middle, Ashley Chapel or NGA.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported 7,160 new cases statewide. Nine of the past 16 days have seen more than 7,000 cases.
Statewide hospitalizations continued a slight downward trend, dropping to 3,620 on Sept. 15, according to NCDHHS.
FirstHealth reports that 90 of its patients are COVID-positive. The patients are from more than 13 counties in North Carolina and surrounding states.
Of those, 18 are vaccinated and 72 are not. All 12 patients in ICU are unvaccinated, as are the seven patients on ventilators.
Scotland Memorial Hospital has 27 COVID patients isolated.
According to the Health Department, 17,532 county residents have been fully vaccinated — an increase of 64 from the previous day.
Interim Health Director Cheryl Speight told the Richmond County Board of Commissioners on Monday that the Pfizer vaccine is again available for adults.
Due to a low supply, that vaccine had been reserved for those under 18 as it is the only one authorized for that age group. Those 18 or older were given the Moderna shot. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is currently not 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.
