ROCKINGHAM — Local health officials on Monday announced the sixth COVID-19-related death in Richmond County.
Health and Human Services Director Dr. Tommy Jarrell said in a press release that the patient, who was diagnosed earlier this month, died earlier Monday at a local hospital.
“Please join us with your thoughts and prayers for this family today during this time of their loss,” Jarrell said.
This is the third death during the month of June.
The county’s first death attributed to COVID-19 was reported on April 10; the second was on April 17; the third on May 30; the fourth on June 8; and the fifth on June 11.
Jarrell said the six deaths have ranged from age 31 to 92.
The total number of deaths statewide has risen to 1,325, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Nearly a dozen new COVID-19 cases were reported in Richmond County on Monday, making more than two dozen in four days.
The Richmond County Health Department announced on Monday that 11 new residents have tested positive for the coronavirus. The Health Department also reported nine new cases on Saturday and five new cases on Friday.
Friday was the fourth day last week five new cases were reported. The only exception was Thursday, with eight new cases.
This brings the county’s total since April 7 to 277, with 91 cases currently active. Three patients are hospitalized and 88 are under home isolation.
More than 2,200 of those tested have been negative for COVID-19, according to the Health Department.
Local figures show more women have tested positive, with the ratio among the sexes being 57% to 43%.
The Health Department has been including that and several other statistical metrics in its daily updates since June 4.
Since then, there has been a rise in cases among the Latino community, with Hispanics accounting for 17% of the county’s cases since June 26. When that metric began being measured, Hispanics were only 10 %.
Currently, causcasians make up the majority of cases at 43%, but a look back at numbers over the past month show African Americans — which only account for 32% of the county’s population — have accounted for a larger percentage of cases in recent weeks.
Jarrell said the Health Department encourages residents to practice the three Ws: wear a mask; wait six feet apart; and wash hands frequently.
