ROCKINGHAM — After dipping below 40, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Richmond County rose above 90 this week.
The Richmond County Health Department reported 11 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday, 17 on Thursday and 13 on Wednesday. In all, there have been 76 new cases this month, with an average of 8.4 per day — 19 more than the last nine days of March.
Even with several recoveries, active cases hit 92 — an increase of 22 in two days — before dropping back to 87 at week’s end.
Richmond County Schools reported two new cases involving traditional students — one each at Richmond Senior and Monroe Avenue Elementary — on Friday.
Since the district began keeping track last August, there have been nearly 500 school-related cases: 11 central office staff; 135 school staff; 93 traditional students; and 255 virtual students.
The county’s positive case total is up to 4,448, just over a year since the first case was reported.
According to the Health Department, there have been 42,183 negative test results, which include people being tested more than once.
Health and Human Services Director Dr. Tommy Jarrell told the RO earlier this week that there have been a few people to test positive more than once, but as of now they’re only being counted once because antibodies can be detected up to three months after infection.
Statewide cases are also seeing a relative spike, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
After hitting a recent low of 870 on April 6, daily cases shot up to 2,509 on Friday — the most for one day in the past month.
DHHS’s COVID-19 dashboard also reveals that there has been less testing this week than in weeks past.
COVID-related hospitalizations in North Carolina had dropped to 882 on March 27, but began to rise, topping out at 1,025 April 6 and sinking back down to 977 by Thursday.
On Friday, there were four Richmond County residents hospitalized, up from two earlier in the week. FirstHealth reported that 12 of its 294 patients (4%) were COVID-positive.
VACCINATIONS
Local and state leaders continue the push to get most of the population vaccinated against the coronavirus, which has spawned several variants.
As of Friday, 22 % of North Carolinans were fully vaccinated, according to DHHS.
In Richmond County, 8,890 residents (19.8%) are fully vaccinated and 11,317 (25.2%) are partially vaccinated.
Of the three vaccines authorized for use by the FDA, only two are available in Richmond County: those manufactured by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. The other is made by Pfizer.
The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two doses, but the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is only a single dose.
The Carolina Journal recently reported that 63% of North Carolinans were worried about side effects from the vaccines.
A vaccination event in Raleigh Thursday was temporarily halted after 18 of the more than 2,300 who got the one-dose shot experienced symptoms. Four of those were sent to a hospital for observation and all but one was released later that night..
However, DHHS announced that the CDC “did not find any safety issues or reason for concern.”
Just because you’re vaccinated doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.
Several states have reported “breakthrough cases” which is defined as “someone who tests positive at least 14 days after having completed their vaccine series and who has not previously tested positive in the previous 45 days,” according to a DHHS spokesperson.
As of April 7, DHHS was aware of 111 breakthrough cases in North Carolina, including seven hospitalizations and one death.
Jarrell told the RO Thursday that he was not aware of any in Richmond County but the tracking process just started this week.
WMBF reports that South Carolina had 141 such cases as of April 5, and the Detroit Free Press reported Michigan had 246 between January and March.
Vaccinations are now open to all individuals 18 and older.
During a press conference late last month, Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said the only vaccine rated for 16 and 17 year olds is the one developed by Pfizer. For the other two, individuals must be at least 18.
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.
Weekly vaccinations are also available at Scotland Memorial Hospital. To register for the clinic in Laurinburg, call 910-291-7654 during the hours of 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday-Friday for assistance.
The Health Department adjusted its free COVID testing hours to 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, dropping the hours on Saturday. Jarrell said this is just a PCR test and that rapid testing is not available at that location.
