ROCKINGHAM — Court was cut short Thursday after an employee of the district attorney’s office tested positive for COVID-19.
District Attorney Reece Saunders said one of employee’s wasn’t feeling well Thursday morning and suggested the employee go home for the day and get tested for the coronavirus.
That employee called back and told Saunders the quick COVID test came back with a positive result.
Saunders said his office called everyone that employee had been in contact with for the past five days and also checked with Health and Human Services Director Dr. Tommy Jarrell and the Administrative Office of the Courts.
He said several other employees in his office were tested and some of their tests came back negative.
Saunders added that it seems to be isolated to that single employee, who is not a resident of Richmond County.
He said he also recommended to Chief District Court Judge Amy Wilson that court be canceled on Friday. However, the Richmond County Superior Court hearings scheduled for Friday are still on.
“We’re trying to have as little disruption as possible, but at the same time, we want everybody to be safe and secure,” Saunders said.
He continued that the goal is to only have people in the courthouse when “we know we’re going to do something with their case,” which limits everyone’s exposure by limiting the number of people coming in.
“If they want it continued, let us know and don’t come to the courthouse,” he said.
The Richmond County Judicial Center itself, remained open for business.
The Health Department on Thursday reported only two new positive COVID-19 cases, the fewest daily cases since Aug. 8.
The number of active cases was 96, with 93 under home isolation and three in a hospital. (The Health Department reported 92 in home isolation, but Jarrell confirmed later it should have been 93.)
Of the 1,494 total cases, 1,361 have recovered; and of all the tests performed, 14,502 have been negative.
Jarrell said since the number of cases appears to be decreasing, the Health Department will start releasing information only Monday-Friday, unless there is a significant number of new cases on Saturday.
