ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond County Health Department on Tuesday afternoon announced the 36th COVID-related death for the county.
According to a press release, the patient died Friday, Oct. 30 at a healthcare facility outside of Richmond County.
That brings the total number of Richmond County residents who died in October after contracting the coronavirus to 15, more than twice the number of those who died in September.
Earlier in the day, the Health Department announced one person died on Saturday and and another on Sunday.
The 33rd death was announced Monday morning. That person also died on Sunday.
According to the Health Department, 25 have passed away in a hospital, seven have died in another healthcare setting and three have died outside of a health setting.
All patients have been between the ages of 31 and 95: 13 have been 80 or older; 10 have been in their 70s; nine in their 60s; three in their 50s; and one who was 31.
The race and gender breakdown is as follows: four African American females, four African American males, two American Indian males, 16 Caucasian females and 10 Caucasian males.
Health and Human Services Director Dr. Tommy Jarrell said in Tuesday afternoon’s press release that a correction had been made to the race of one of the males.
According to the Health Department, women account for 55% of all active cases in the county.
It is not known if any of the patients had underlying conditions.
The Health Department reported 12 new cases on Monday, making 26 so far for the first week of November.
The total number of active cases is now at 87, with 81 under home isolation and six hospitalized. (Note: The daily statistics were announced prior to the most recent death.) Both the numbers of active cases and hospitalizations have decreased in recent days.
Since the first case was reported in April, 1,474 Richmond County residents have tested positive for the coronavirus and 1,352 have recovered. Of all the tests performed, 14,224 have returned a negative result.
Free COVID testing began Monday in the parking lot of Cole Auditorium. Testing will continue through Friday, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. each day.
