ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond County Health Department has reported COVID-related deaths for a third consecutive day.
On Wednesday, Interim Health Director Cheryl Speight announced the death of two more residents, making five this week. Two were reported on Monday, one on Tuesday.
This bring’s the county’s total to 122 since the first was reported in April 2020.
According to the Health Department, the updated race and gender breakdown is as follows: 21 African American females, 17 African American males, three “other race” females, one “other race” male, two Hispanic females, one Hispanic male, two American Indian males, 39 Caucasian females and 36 Caucasian males.
All patients have been between the ages of 31 and 95: 34 have been 80 or older; 32 have been in their 70s; 35 in their 60s; 16 in their 50s; four in their 40s and one who was 31.
Of the county’s deaths, 92 have been at a hospital, 23 have passed away in another healthcare facility and seven have died outside of a health setting.
Based on previous reports, both of the latest deaths were of Cacuasian men — one in his 60s, the other in his 50s — who were in a hospital.
There have now been 68 COVID-related deaths this year, including 13 in February and 23 in January. Thus far, 19 have been reported in August.
According to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, there have been 14,152 COVID-related deaths statewide —32 between Monday and Tuesday.
The Health Department reported 16 new COVID cases on Tuesday. More than 9,000 new cases were reported in the state Monday and Tuesday.
Statewide hospitalizations dropped by 11 between Sunday and Monday from a recent high of 3,353 to 3,342.
Local hospitalizations are only reported on Wednesdays and those numbers will be released later in the day.
As of Aug. 24, FirstHealth reported that 84 of its 378 patients (22%) were COVID-positive. Of those:
Scotland Health Care reported Tuesday that 29 COVID patients were isolated.
Of the patients hospitalized from April 1 to Aug. 18, 12 were vaccinated, 211 were unvaccinated.
Because of limited supplies of the Pfizer vaccine, which is the only one authorized for kids aged 12-17, Speight said the Health Department is limiting it to the younger population and giving the Moderna shot to adults. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is no longer available through the Health Department.
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.
