ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County’s coronavirus case count has risen by one for a total of 17.
Health and Human Services Director Dr. Tommy Jarrell announced the most recent case in a press release Friday afternoon.
Of those who have tested positive, 12 are under home isolation, three are hospitalized and two have died, according to Jarrell. The second death was announced Thursday.
“At this time, 376 Richmond County residents have been tested for COVID-19... and 336 negative test results have been received,” Jarrell said.
The last two to test positive are both 56 years old, according to Jarrell. There are three patients in their 30s, five patients in their 50s, three are in their 60s, and one patient is 41. The remaining are above the age of 70.
Records with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services show that those aged 25-49 make up 38% (the largest percentage) of coronavirus patients across the state.
As of 11 a.m. Friday, there were 5,859 state residents who have tested positive out of nearly 73,000 tests performed in 93 counties.
While the state shows that 429 are hospitalized and 152 have died, it does not list the number of those who have recovered from the coronavirus.
Richmond was the last county in the central region of the state to have a confirmed case.
The case numbers for surrounding counties include: 20 in Stanly, 11 in Scotland, 14 in Anson, 17 in Montgomery and 67 in Moore.
Four of Richmond County’s cases are tied to an outbreak at a Pinehurst nursing home.
Mecklenburg continues to have the highest number of cases with more than 1,100.
On Friday, Jarrell also announced a change in the testing location.
“The Richmond County site for mobile testing has been relocated to the outpatient parking lot off of County Home Road at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital-Richmond campus in Rockingham,” he said.
The hours of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays remain the same from when testing was being performed at the former Sandhills Regional Medical Center in Hamlet.
Jarrell mentioned no reason for the change, but state officials announced earlier this month that it could be used as an overflow facility for hospitals with non-coronavirus patients.
Officials at FirstHealth, which owns the building, said the hospital would be staffed by the state.
There is also a testing site at West Pine Elementary School, located at 272 Archie Road in West End, open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Richmond County has a COVID-19 hotline is available for information seven days a week (until further notice) from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The phone number is 910-417-4947.
