ROCKINGHAM — More children have now tested positive for COVID-19 than adults in any age group, according to statistics from the Richmond County Health Department.
When the weekly age group stats were released Wednesday, the number of cases involving those aged 18 years or younger was at 1,184 — an increase of 81 from the previous week.
As of 6 p.m. Thursday, Richmond County Schools had reported cases among 120 students with one day left of the third week of classes.
The RCS COVID Tracker shows 11 students tested positive on Thursday:
This brings the total number of school-related cases to 138 in less than three weeks.
Richmond Senior and Hamlet Middle top the list of student cases with 23 and 22, respectively. East Rockingham, Washington Street and Richmond Early College High School have each had nine cases.
(Note: The COVID Tracker showed 10 cases for the Early College on Wednesday.)
According to Gov. Roy Cooper’s office, the number of school districts with mandatory masking policies has increased from 74 to 109 in the past three weeks.
The Richmond County Board of Education voted Tuesday to keep the mandate in place for another month.
"We know that keeping kids learning in the classroom is the most important thing for our students right now. Getting vaccinated, wearing a mask in public indoor settings and following the science is what we need to do," Cooper said in a Thursday press conference. "The faster we put this pandemic behind us, the sooner we can all rest easy and stay healthy."
As for the other age groups, the Health Department reported:
(+= increase from the previous week.)
On Thursday, the Health Department reported 14 new cases — a significant drop from the 70 reported on Wednesday — bringing September’s total to 302 and the overall number to 6,330.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported 6,290 new cases, marking the sixth day this month and 16th since Aug. 8 with at least 6,000 positive results.
Statewide COVID-related hospitalizations have remained high but steady between 3,750 and 3,815 since Aug. 31, hitting the latter for the second time on Wednesday, according to NCDHHS.
FirstHealth — which has COVID patients from Moore, Richmond, Cumberland, Hoke, Lee, Robeson, Montgomery, Scotland, Randolph, Harnett, Chatham and Johnston counties, and even some from out of state — reported Thursday that 85 of its 410 patients (21%) have the coronavirus. Of those:
Scotland Memorial Hospital currently has 28 isolated COVID patients.
According to the Health Department, 17,126 Richmond County residents have been fully vaccinated.
The Pfizer vaccine is being reserved for those under 18 as it is the only one authorized for that age group.
The school system and the Health Department are teaming up for a vaccine clinic from 9-11 a.m. Saturday at the high school gym.
Anyone 18 or older should go to the Health Department for the Moderna shot.
Vaccines are available at the Health Department Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Fridays from 8-11 a.m. There is no charge and no appointment necessary.
