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Sadly, the Roanoke-Chowan area is contributing to the rise in the statewide number of cases and deaths linked to COVID-19.

This week, six local residents succumbed due to the virus. There were two deaths each in Bertie and Hertford counties while Gates and Northampton each had one death.

The two deaths in Bertie County were in the age 65-and-over age group. Both were residents at the Brian Center where a facility outbreak has infected 33 residents and 10 staff members.

Both of the Hertford County deaths were individuals over the age of 65. One death was related to the facility outbreak at Creekside Care and Rehabilitation in Ahoskie where 16 other residents have already lost their lives.

The COVID-19 related death in Gates County was a resident over the age of 65. This death is not related to any facility outbreaks.

Since the outbreak began in March, there have been 98 COVID-related deaths in the Roanoke-Chowan area (41 in Hertford County; 28 in Northampton; 24 in Bertie; and five in Gates County).

As of Wednesday (Nov. 24), Hertford County had 37 active cases of the virus while 883 have recovered over the past eight months.

Northampton topped the number of active cases locally with 108 (690 have recovered since April).

Bertie had 50 active cases as of Nov. 24 along with 795 recoveries.

Gates County reported only six active cases and 191 recoveries since April.

Governor Roy Cooper has issued additional COVID-19 safety measures to tighten mask requirements and enforcement as cases continue to rise rapidly across North Carolina.

Executive Order No. 180 became effective on Wednesday, Nov. 25 and runs through Friday, Dec. 11. The new order stresses that everyone needs to wear a mask whenever they are with someone who is not from the same household. The order also adds the mask requirement to several additional settings, including any public indoor space even when maintaining 6 feet of distance; gyms even when exercising; all schools public and private; and all public or private transportation when traveling with people outside of the household.