ROCKINGHAM — November started off with the Richmond County Health Department announcing another COVID-related death, bringing the county’s total to 145.
The Health Department last week announced two other deaths. The most recent makes eight within the past month.
According to the Health Department, the updated race and gender breakdown is as follows: 22 African American females, 25 African American males, three “other race” females, one “other race” male, two Hispanic females, three Hispanic males, two American Indian males, 46 Caucasian females and 41 Caucasian males.
All patients have been between the ages of 31 and 95: 36 have been 80 or older; 35 have been in their 70s; 40 in their 60s; 21 in their 50s; eight in their 40s; and five in their 30s.
Of the county’s deaths, 113 have been at a hospital, 25 have passed away in another healthcare facility and seven have died outside of a health setting.
According to previous reports, the past three COVID-related deaths have been of Caucasian women, two in their 70s and 80 years old or older. Two died in a hospital, the other in another healthcare facility.
There were 11 COVID-related deaths in September, 13 in February and 23 in both January and August.
North Carolina has recorded a total of 18,104 COVID-related deaths — 408 since Oct. 21 — according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.
The Health Department also reported 22 new cases on Monday, which includes Saturday and Sunday.
Richmond County Schools’ COVID Tracker showed eight new cases within the system as of 4 p.m. Monday: two student cases at Rockingham Middle; one student case each at East Rockingham and L.J. Bell Elementary, Ninth Grade Academy and Richmond Senior High; and one staff-related case each at Fairview Heights and Monroe Avenue Elementary.
Since classes began, there have been 340 student cases across the district — 80 at Richmond Senior — as well as 54 staff-related cases.
New cases are continuing a downward trend across the state, with NCDHHS reporting 1,096 on Monday.
COVID-related hospitalizations also continue to decline, dropping to 1,207 and 1,211 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
FirstHealth 32 of the 350 patients in its hospitals (9%) are COVID-positive. Of those, 10 have been vaccinated. However, the four patients in ICU and three on ventilators are unvaccinated.
According to the Health Department, 19,545 residents are vaccinated.
COVID vaccinations and boosters are available at the Health Department from 8 a.m. -5 p.m. Monday-Thursday 8-5, and 8-11 a.m. on Fridays with no appointment needed.
