ROCKINGHAM — New daily COVID-19 cases in Richmond County have remained less than 20 as spread of the virus seems to be slowing.
The Richmond County Health Department reported 13 new cases on Friday, 19 on Thursday, and 14 on each Tuesday and Wednesday. Forty were reported cases on Monday, for an average of 13.3 each day over the weekend.
This is the first week with fewer than 20 cases each day since the first week of November 2020.
The number of active cases on Friday was 143.
Richmond County Schools reported one case involving a traditional student on Friday.
New daily statewide cases had dropped below 2,000 on Tuesday, but spiked back to nearly 4,000 on Thursday, and decreased slightly to 3,227 on Friday, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
COVID-related hospitalizations also continue to fall.
There were 1,780 COVID patients in North Carolina on Feb. 18 — a more than 50% decrease from the month before, according to DHHS.
Richmond County hospitalizations dropped to six Thursday and remained that way on Friday.
COVID-positive patients at FirstHealth’s hospitals on Friday comprised 36 of the 363 admitted (9.9%).
State health officials say severe weather had delayed shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine. Teachers and other childcare workers will be eligible to receive the vaccine next week.
DHHS reports that 6,078 people in Richmond County have received the first of the two-dose vaccine, and 2,386 have been administered both. The doses are given about four weeks apart.
To sign up for the vaccine locally, call 910-417-3030 and leave your name, date of birth and phone number. Local health officials ask that callers not leave multiple messages.
Vaccinations aren’t restricted by residency.
To schedule an appointment in Scotland County, call 910-291-7654 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
The new hours for the free drive-thru testing clinic behind the Health Department are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays. However, times may be altered due to weather conditions.
According to the Health Department, 30,419 test results have been negative and 4,075.
The Health Department announced four COVID-related deaths earlier this week, bringing the overall total to 87. There have been 34 so far this year— 11 this month and 23 in January. There were also 15 in October and 13 in December of 2020.
There have been 10,820 COVID-related deaths in North Carolina as of Feb. 19, according to DHHS. The state topped the 10,000 mark on Feb. 9.
