ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County’s status in the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 County Alert System has again been downgraded, now to the lowest tier.
DHHS updated the system report Thursday afternoon, showing that Richmond is now a yellow county, indicating that there is only “significant” community spread of the coronavirus.
Richmond had been a red county since Dec. 8 and was downgraded to an orange county Feb. 22.
Counties are color-coded either red (critical), orange (substantial) or yellow (significant) based on the following criteria:
Following Thursday’s report, only six counties are still red, including Montgomery and Sampson; 34 are orange, including Stanly, Scotland, Hoke, Moore and Lee; and 33 are yellow, including Anson, Union and Robeson.
(See the report attached to this post.)
According to DHHS, Richmond County has had 377 new cases per 100,000 people the past two weeks. The actual number of cases in that time period is shown as 169.
"North Carolinians are pulling together to slow the spread of the virus by getting vaccinated and keeping up the 3Ws," said NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen. "While we are pleased with the improving trends, there is still more work to do to protect each other."
The Richmond County Health Department reported seven new cases on Thursday, making 57 reported so far this week, which also includes numbers for the last two days of February. There are 78 active cases and the county has seen 4,219 total cases since last April. Of all the testing, 32,016 results have been negative.
Richmond County Schools reported only one case, involving a traditional student and Monroe Avenue Elementary.
Local students were allowed back in the classroom on Feb. 1. State legislators are still working to give students across the state the same option, but Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed one bill and an override attempt failed earlier this week.
DHHS announced earlier in the day that it would be expanding rapid COVID-19 testing in K-12 schools.
The agency also said that long-term care facilities could resume indoor visitations since cases have subsided.
The numbers of local daily cases and total active cases, as well as hospitalizations have dropped significantly in recent weeks to lows not seen since November.
Daily statewide cases nearly doubled from Tuesday’s recent low of 1,239 to 2,502.
COVID-related hospitalizations across the state also continue to decline, dropping to 1,290 on Wednesday — the fewest since mid-November.
There are currently six Richmond County residents hospitalized with the virus and there were 21 in FirstHealth hospitals as of Wednesday.
Employees dubbed “essential frontline workers” — which include those working in critical manufacturing, education, grocery stores and in food and agriculture — are now eligible for the vaccine, FirstHealth announced Wednesday, about a week ahead of the original date.
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.
To schedule an appointment in Scotland County, call 910-291-7654 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
McLeod Health Cheraw will hold a walk-in clinic 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday at Pine Grove Baptist Church, 293 Zoar Road, Chesterfield, South Carolina for those listed in Phase 1 — healthcare workers, first responders and those 65 or older. A work badge or photo ID will be required.
Limited first doses will be available starting at 10 a.m.
