ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County has now surpassed 4,000 total COVID-19 cases in less than a year, but the current number of active cases has dropped below 200 for the first time in more than two months.
The Richmond County Health Department reported on Friday that 15 additional residents had tested positive for the coronavirus and announced 40 new cases on Monday, for an average of 13.3 over the weekend.
The 55 recent cases in the past four days brings the county’s overall total to 4,015.
When compared to the other five counties with similar populations (43,000-48,000) Richmond the third-lowest.
DHHS records (which may not be consistent with county records) show the following case totals:
- Vance – 4,053
- Beaufort – 4,075
- McDowell – 4,636
- Stokes – 3,490
- Jackson – 3,153
(Note: The state lists Richmond as having 4,024 total cases.)
However, among the same counties, Richmond has the highest number of COVID-related deaths, with the 84th reported on Monday.
The number of active cases on Monday dipped to 190 — the lowest since 184 were reported on Dec. 2.
Richmond County Schools reported eight new cases on Monday as students began their third week of in-person instruction since December:
- One staff member and two traditional students at Rockingham Middle
- One virtual student each at Hamlet Middle and Fairview Heights
- One traditional student at L.J. Bell
- Two virtual students at Richmond Senior
Records show cases among virtual students outnumber those involving traditional students 231-57. There have also been 125 cases among school staff members and 11 among Central Services staff since the district began reporting numbers in late August 2020.
The county and state saw a spike in cases in December and January, but those numbers have been decreasing in recent weeks.
Last month, Richmond County saw a record high number of cases and COVID-related deaths. Case numbers for February, both local and statewide, are skewed following late reporting from FastMed clinics.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday reported 2,458 new cases across the state, marking only the second day in the past two months that number has been less than 3,000.
COVID-related hospitalizations also continue to decline, dropping below 2,000 for the first time on Saturday and to a recent low of 1,941 on Sunday. (State hospital statistics are a day behind.)
Hospitalizations began a steady increase in mid-November before peaking at nearly 4,000 by mid-January and have been decreasing since.
Richmond County’s hospitalizations dropped to nine on Monday for the first time since Dec. 3.
COVID-positive patients at FirstHealth’s hospitals on Monday comprised 41 of the 325 admitted (12.6%). Scotland Memorial Hospital had 17 patients isolated.
Last week, FirstHealth announced that there would be at least 1,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine available in Richmond County.
DHHS reports that 5,738 people in Richmond County have received the first of the two-dose vaccine, and 1,349 have been administered both. The doses are given about four weeks apart.
State officials announced last week that teachers, school staff and child care workers will be eligible for the vaccine starting Feb. 24.
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, 29,811 test results have been negative.
