Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Roanoke-Chowan area continues to see an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases.

On Friday afternoon (Sept. 4), Albemarle Regional Health Services (ARHS) reported the following information:

Bertie County – 463 lab confirmed cases: 61 active, 396 recovered, and 6 deaths;

Gates County – 96 lab confirmed cases: 17 active, 76 recovered, and 3 deaths; and

Hertford County – 578 lab confirmed cases: 74 active, 486 recovered, and 18 deaths.

The Northampton County Health Department reported 382 total positive cases; 17 active, 348 recovered, and 17 deaths.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recently enhanced testing capacity at congregate living facilities, revealing a number of recent outbreaks across the ARHS region. An outbreak is defined as two or more cases in a facility. When an outbreak is identified, additional contact tracing and testing is required in order to manage exposures and ensure proper steps are taken to protect both staff and residents. This often times identifies additional cases more quickly, including asymptomatic cases.

Current congregate living facility active outbreak numbers in the Roanoke-Chowan area are as follows:

Bertie Correctional – 14 staff and 19 inmates;

Rivers Correctional – 7 staff and 7 inmates;

Brian Center Health and Rehab of Windsor – 6 staff and 2 residents;

Creekside Care and Rehab of Ahoskie – 16 staff and 38 residents;

Ahoskie Assisted Living – 4 staff and 1 resident;

Gates House of Gatesville – 4 staff and 1 resident; and

Windsor House of Windsor – 1 staff and 5 residents.

“COVID-19 remains a highly contagious virus and continues to be a public health threat across the region,” stated ARHS Health Director R. Battle Betts Jr. “As we enjoy the Labor Day weekend and move into easing restrictions in Phase 2.5, we cannot lose sight of what we know works, wearing a mask and social distancing. For your protection and the protection of others, ARHS encourages individuals to practice the three W’s when you leave your home: Wear a cloth face covering, Wait six feet apart, and Wash your hands.”