ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond County Health Department on Thursday announced another COVID-related death, making the fourth this week.
Local health officials say the death occurred within the past 24 hours and while the press release doesn’t specifically say where the county resident died, it appears it was at a hospital.
Since April, there have been 71 COVID-related deaths of Richmond County residents reported by the Health Department.
Fifty have reportedly passed away in a hospital, 17 in another healthcare facility, and four outside of a health setting.
The race and gender breakdown is as follows: 13 African American females, 12 African American males, two “other race” females, one “other race,” male, one Hispanic female, two American Indian males, 22 Caucasian females and 18 Caucasian males.
All patients have been between the ages of 31 and 95: 21 have been 80 or older; 22 have been in their 70s; 19 in their 60s; eight in their 50s; and one who was 31.
It appears the latest death was that of an “other race” woman in her 70s.
January has had 18 COVID-related deaths — the most in any month since the first was reported in April 2020. There were also 15 to pass away in October and 13 in December.
There have been 8,720 COVID-related deaths across the state, as of Jan. 27 — an increase of 195 from Jan. 25 — according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Thursday’s statistics have not yet been released as of this writing.
When compared to the other five counties with similar populations (43,000-48,000) Richmond ranks second, with Beaufort County coming in at a close third.
DHHS records (which may not be up to date with county records, as only 69 are recorded for Richmond) show the following death totals:
- Vance – 74
- Beaufort – 69 (including the mayor of Washington)
- McDowell – 49
- Stokes – 54
- Jackson – 24
According to Johns Hopkins University, there have been 429,322 COVID-related deaths in the U.S. and 2,177,819 globally.
On Wednesday, Gov. Roy Cooper announced he was extending his modified stay-at-home order until the end of February.
