A sixth novel coronavirus death has been reported by the Halifax County Health Department today.

Health Director Bruce Robistow declined comment on demographic information on the sixth death.

That death, along with the fifth death in Halifax County, has yet to be entered into the North Carolina Department and Health and Human Services’ ZIP code database. The first four deaths have been reported from the Roanoke Rapids area ZIP code.

News of the sixth death comes as the number of cumulative positive cases of COVID-19 surpassed the 500-mark as of midnight Tuesday.

According to the NCDHHS, a novel coronavirus COVID-19-associated death is defined for surveillance purposes as a death resulting from a clinically compatible illness that was confirmed to be COVID-19 by an appropriate laboratory test. There should be no period of complete recovery between COVID-19 diagnosis and death. Based on this case definition and an investigation into the illness of the case patient, NCDHHS is classifying this event as a COVID-19 related death.

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The health department reported today it is aware of 2,841 confirmed tests performed on county residents with the following breakdown:

504 positive cases since testing began; six related deaths and 305 recoveries.

The approximate number of current cases can be calculated by subtracting the number of recoveries from the positives.

There are 60 tests pending and 2,227 known negative results.

“Regretfully we are reporting one additional death today bringing our total to six COVID-19 related deaths,” Robistow said in his update. “We are also adding five positive cases which continues (to bring) our trend line in an upward direction. Please start, or continue to practice the three Ws. Doing so can make a huge difference in your health and the health of others.”

Robistow said, “Let’s all work together to protect each other, wear a mask, wait six feet apart, and wash and disinfect hands frequently. Improving your compliance with the three Ws now will both better educate children as to how to practice them and also provide a safer community when school starts. Please take this opportunity to protect our children and each other very seriously.”

Meanwhile, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety added an additional positive case of the novel coronavirus at Caledonia Correctional Institution in Tillery. The additional case brings the total to 76 after mass testing was performed there. 

There have been 810 tests performed at the prison and there have been 734 negative results.