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Four more cases of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) have been confirmed in Northampton County, according to Andy Smith, the county’s Health Director.

The new confirmations bring the number to five county residents testing positive for the virus.

“All five are in isolation and doing remarkably well,” Smith said.

The first Northampton case was confirmed on Monday of this week.

Smith said the first case and the following three are linked together.

The most recent case, announced on Friday, is unrelated to the first four. Smith said the most recent case involved an individual who traveled out of state.

The Health Director stated that results are pending from other recent tests.

“We are going out into the community and testing those who meet the criteria,” Smith said. “We urge those who are showing symptoms of the virus to call us first. We will come to you if your symptoms warrant testing.”

Meanwhile, a second resident of Hertford County has tested positive for COVID-19.

Albemarle Regional Health Services Health Director R. Battle Betts, Jr. said lab results confirmed the case, which led to the patient being isolated.

As with the first case in the county on Monday, ARHS officials are trying to determine the point of contact that led to both individuals testing positive.

ARHS is following North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services guidelines on contact tracing of all individuals who may have had close contact with the case. Close contacts are defined as having direct contact with, or been within six feet for at least 10 minutes, of a case-patient while not wearing recommended personal protective equipment.

Betts said that caregivers and household members of the case-patient are considered close contacts.

As of late Friday afternoon, there were a total of 10 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Roanoke-Chowan area. In additional to the ones in Northampton and Hertford, there are three cases in Bertie.