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August 24, 2021

LUMBERTON – The seven days between August 17 and Monday were the second deadliest period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Robeson County, as 16 virus-related deaths were reported by the local health department.

This marks an increase from the 11 virus-related deaths reported between August 10 and August 16.

The latest deaths bring the county’s pandemic death toll to 304, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 dashboard.

Many of the deaths in the county over the past two weeks are in their twenties, thirties and fifties, and a few older people, said Bill Smith, director of the county’s health department.

From August 17 to Monday, 931 new cases of the virus were reported in the county, compared to 882 for the period from August 10 to 16. The new cases bring the number of cases reported in Robeson County since the start of the pandemic to 21,228. This equates to about one case for every 5.5 people in Robeson County.

The county’s test positivity rate was 15.1% over the past week, Smith said. This is more than triple the announced target of 5%.

American Indians in the county continue to contract the virus at a higher rate. Of the 814 cases in which the individual’s race is known to county health officials, 426 are American Indian. Whites account for 214 of the cases, African Americans 110, and Hispanics 24. Forty of the cases are listed as other. There have been 117 cases in the past week in which the race was not listed.

American Indians are also vaccinated at a lower rate than other races in the county. Native Americans make up 43% of the county’s population, but 29% of vaccinations. African Americans, 31% of the population, 32% of vaccinations; and whites, 24% and 25%, are vaccinated at a rate similar to their population rate. Another 7% of the vaccines are listed as other and for 6% the breed is not disclosed.

As of Tuesday, 44,945 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered in Robeson County and 37,275 people are considered fully vaccinated.

“At 34%, Robeson remains the worst in the state for immunization rates,” Smith said. “The Summer Reward Card program is scheduled to end on August 31. Between this program, employer mandates and the public finally realizing a problem, the immunization clinics here have increased tenfold.”

Pfizer’s vaccine was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration on Sunday. Until now, it was administered under an emergency use authorization.

“Now that Pfizer has received full authorization for use, the excuse that this is an investigational vaccine can be ruled out,” Smith said. “Of course, we still have the enshrined claims of the chips, the magnets, the ability to grow horns, and the development of the Mark of the Beast. The ‘doomsday prophets’ must think the FDA simply ignored them for some reason. Or here is the real reason, after researching thousands of participants for six months, there was no evidence other than the product delivered as promised. As the saying goes, don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story. “

UNC Health Southeastern reported 45 patients with the virus in isolation at its medical center on Monday, down one from the 46 reported on August 16. Among them, 44 are not vaccinated. There is one employee quarantined due to possible exposure to the virus, the same number as on August 16.

There were 40,454 new cases reported in the state by NCDHHS between August 18 and Tuesday, compared to 36,064 from August 11 to 17. This brings the state’s pandemic total to 1,166,141 reported cases.

There were 257 virus-related deaths reported statewide between August 18 and Tuesday, compared to 127 from August 11 to 17, for a total of 14,152 for the pandemic.

There were 3,342 virus-related hospitalizations in the state on Tuesday, up from 2,828 on August 17.

According to the NCDHHS, 5,165,724 first doses of the vaccine have been administered statewide, with 4,720,033 people considered fully vaccinated.

In other virus-related news, NCDHHS on Monday announced the launch of TeenVaxFacts.com, a website dedicated to providing teens with the information, tools and resources they need to learn, their friends and members. their family on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines. .

The website includes materials such as a COVID-19 vaccine discussion guide, vaccine locations, and informative videos.

Adolescents 12 to 17 years old can receive the Pfizer vaccine. To find suppliers with the Pfizer vaccine, go to MySpot.nc.gov and filter for Pfizer. People 18 years of age and older can get the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccines in North Carolina, visit MySpot.nc.gov or call the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Assistance Center at 888-675-4567. Residents can text their postal code to 438829 to find vaccine locations near them.