ROCKINGHAM — The nearly 90 Richmond County residents who passed away within the past year due to complications from COVID-19 will be remembered next month.
Richmond County Aging Services is organizing a drive-thru vigil scheduled for 8 p.m. April 9 in the Human Services Complex parking lot.
According to Aging Services Director Jacqueline Welch, there will be a luminary for each resident who lost their fight with the coronavirus.
As of this writing, the county has had 89 COVID-related deaths — 36 of which have been this year, according to the Richmond County Health Department. The first was reported April 10, 2020 and the most recent two announced Feb. 22.
January had the most COVID-related deaths with 23, followed by 15 in December and 13 each in October and February.
Health Department records show that around 87% of the deaths have been those of older residents, aged at least 60 years. The oldest was 95. The breakdown shows: 25 have been 80 or older; 27 have been in their 70s; 26 in their 60s; 10 in their 50s; and one who was 31.
Most of the deaths have occured in some type of healthcare setting: 62 people have died in a hospital; 23 in a healthcare facility; and four outside of a health setting.
The race and gender breakdown is as follows: 16 African American females, 12 African American males, two “other race” females, one “other race,” male, two Hispanic females, two American Indian males, 27 Caucasian females and 27 Caucasian males.
That is the only information the Health Department provided for the deaths.
When compared to the other five counties with similar populations (43,000-48,000) Richmond ranks the highest.
Records with Johns Hopkins University (the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services website was having technical issues) show the following death totals:
- Vance – 81
- Beaufort – 82 (including the mayor of Washington)
- McDowell – 61
- Stokes – 73
- Jackson – 54
As of March 3, North Carolina had recorded 11,363 COVID-related deaths — 437 since Feb. 22, according to DHHS. The state topped the 10,000 mark on Feb. 9.
