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RALEIGH – North Carolina health officials released details for the first time Monday on the locations of dozens of nursing homes and other group living facilities with COVID-19 outbreaks across the state, according to a story posted on www.wral.com.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS), two of the four deaths associated with positive cases of COVID-19 in Northampton County have occurred at nursing homes there: one each at Pine Forest Rest Home in Potecasi and Rich Square Nursing and Rehabilitation.

NC DHHS listed 27 total confirmed cases at Pine Forest, and four cases at Rich Square Nursing and Rehabilitation.

Of the 28 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hertford County, 23 are at Rivers Correctional Institution, a private prison located near Winton. That facility had 19 cases (nine inmates and 10 staff members) as of this past Friday (as reported by Albemarle Regional Health Services).

According to WRAL, the move marks a significant policy reversal for the NC DHHS, which for weeks has maintained that identifying facilities with outbreaks would reveal confidential health information for particular patients.

As of Monday, NC DHHS reported more than 2,500 cases of COVID-19 and nearly 150 deaths from the disease in congregate living settings, which include nursing homes, prisons and residential care facilities. Infections in those settings account for more than one-quarter of the state’s total cases, and nearly half of all deaths.

NC DHHS data on the outbreaks shows The Citadel, a nursing home in Salisbury, has the largest number of COVID-19 cases so far at 144. The facility has also seen 10 deaths from the disease. But with less than half as many confirmed cases, Louisburg Healthcare and Rehab Center in Franklin County has seen 14 deaths, the most in the state.

Tuesday’s report from the local Roanoke-Chowan area counties showed 81 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 60 recoveries in Northampton; 38 cases in Bertie (19 active; 17 recovered; 2 deaths); 28 in Hertford County (23 active; 4 recoveries; 1 death); and seven in Gates County (3 active; 4 recovered).

Hertford County Emergency Management Director Chris Smith said on Tuesday that a trio of Ahoskie-based nursing homes had implemented additional measures in an effort to prevent any of the residents or staff members testing positive for the virus.

Statewide, NC DHHS reported 9,568 positive cases and 342 deaths through Tuesday morning, April 28.