ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond County Health Department announced two new cases of COVID-19 early Sunday afternoon, bringing the county's total to 10.
Of those 10, four are hospitalized, five are in home isolation and one has died.
The Health Department has not released any age or gender information regarding the cases here.
Ninety-eight percent of the 323 COVID-19 tests that have been performed on Richmond County residents have been returned, Health and Human Services Director Dr. Tommy Jarrell said. Of those, 306 have been negative.
There are still nine of North Carolina's counties holding out with no cases, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, all of which have low populations.
The latest figures from the state show: 62,139 completed tests; 4,520 cases; 331 hospitalized; and 81 deaths. However, the state does not show the number of recoveries.
Local and state health officials are encouraging residents to stay home, per Gov. Roy Cooper's executive orders, unless they have to go out for work, food or other essential supplies, and to refrain from gathering in groups of more than 10.
Some states are enforcing social distancing and crowd caps more than others.
Congregants of a church in Greenville, Missisppi were fined for a drive-in service on Saturday and police threatened to fine another nearby church. The pastor of the second church video recorded the situation as he protested. One of the officers could be heard telling him, "You're rights are suspended."
Many argue that the state governors have no right to ban church services on First Amendment grounds.
Another executive order by Cooper limits the number of occupants in retail establishments and goes into effect Monday.
