The latest report by the Halifax County Health Department shows the 44th related death to COVID-19.

The death, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 dashboard, occurred within the Roanoke Rapids area ZIP code and is the 24th to be reported from that area.

While he did not have specific information on the 44th related death, health department Director Bruce Robistow said this afternoon that of the 43 reported Wednesday, 35 had underlying health conditions while the remainder were unknown.

Of the 43 related deaths reported Wednesday, all were above the age of 50.

The breakdown of related deaths in Halifax County is as follows: 24 within the Roanoke Rapids area ZIP code; six within the Scotland Neck area ZIP code; five within the Enfield area ZIP code; three within the Weldon area ZIP code; two within the Halifax area ZIP code; two within the Littleton area ZIP code; one within the Hobgood area ZIP code; and one within the Hollister area ZIP code. 

The health department also reported today that 23 new positive cases of COVID-19 were added to the county’s data. That brings the total cumulative number of positives since March to 2,424.

There continues to be a sustained increase in the number of positive cases, the department reported.

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Robistow said the health department anticipates it will be able to provide the Moderna vaccine as soon as next week to healthcare workers and long-term care facilities.

The health department is expecting 600 units in the first delivery. “It’s been shown to be up to 95 percent effective and is awaiting final approval from the FDA which is expected today or tomorrow.”

Robistow said the arrival of the vaccine “is the beginning of our efforts to combat COVID-19. It is going to take several months before we start to form a herd immunity from the utilization of vaccines.”

Until a herd immunity is established the health director said, “I would ask that everyone work even harder to reduce our number of positive cases and deaths. Doing so will aid in keeping businesses open and just help to mitigate COVID-19 so we can eradicate it with the vaccine. I’m asking everyone to wear a mask. Our numbers are sustained at a very high level.”

On the effort to develop a vaccine, he said, “It’s been an incredible display of modern science and medicine as well as a combined effort by multiple agencies and universities working together for a common cause.”

Northampton County

The health department Wednesday reported there were 972 total positive cases of which 849 have recovered. There were 72 current cases. There have been 51 related deaths.