ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond County Health Department reported two new COVID-19-related deaths of Richmond County residents Monday morning, bringing the total to 87.

These two deaths occurred within the previous 24 hours. There have now been four this week, with one each on Monday and Tuesday.

The new year and post-holiday period has brought about the worst of the pandemic for Richmond County. There have now been 35 COVID deaths in the new year, for an average of one death every 1.37 days as of Feb. 17.

Breakdown of local impact

The 87 COVID-19-related deaths in the county have ranged in age from 31 to 95. A further breakdown of the deaths indicate: 15 African American females, 12 African American males, two “other race” females, one “other race” male, two Hispanic females, two Native American males, 26 Caucasian females and 27 Caucasian males. Sixty of the deceased have died in a hospital, 23 have died at another healthcare facility and four have died outside of a hospital or healthcare facility setting. The age ranges for the deceased are as follows:

Age Range:

• 30-39: 1

• 50-59: 10

• 60-69: 25

• 70-79: 27

• 80 & up: 24

Free Covid-19 testing will be offered at Richmond County Health Department (back parking lot-behind building) located at 127 Caroline Street in Rockingham, North Carolina through January 2021. Anyone seeking testing should enter the Greene Street entrance and follow signs to the back of building to testing center. The times available are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

These tests do not require a patient to be experiencing symptoms, to have a doctor’s note, nor to have insurance. The wait time for results is roughly the same as the wait following a test with FirstHealth.

The Health Department continues to encourage everyone to practice the three W’s: wear mask, wait six feet apart and wash hands frequently.

The county reached the 50-death benchmark Dec. 30 when a death from earlier in the month was reported. The first COVID-19-related death came on April 10, and there were only 13 by Sept. 11.

For comparison, Health Director Tommy Jarrell told the Daily Journal that the official count of flu deaths in Richmond County hovers between five and 10 deaths each year.

The Health Department reports deaths as “COVID-19-related” not “COVID-19-only” deaths — meaning that other comorbidities may have been at play, but that the coronavirus was a factor in the person dying, Jarrell explained.

If you have questions about COVID-19 in general or about your own need to be tested, call the Richmond County COVID-19 Hotline at 910-417-4947.