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The death toll from COVID-19 in the Roanoke-Chowan area increased by two during the latter stages of this week.

Albemarle Regional Health Services (ARHS) reported on Thursday that a Bertie County resident between the ages of 50-64 succumbed to complications from COVID-19. On Friday, ARHS revealed that a Gates County resident died from the virus. That individual was over the age of 65.

To protect the privacy of both families, no further information about these patients was released.

Earlier this week, ARHS reported the deaths of two Hertford County residents. All totaled since COVID-19 outbreak began in March, the virus has claimed 41 local lives (17 in Northampton; 15 in Hertford; 6 in Bertie; and 3 in Gates).

Also, Hertford became the first local county to exceed 500 cases. As of Friday (Aug. 28), ARHS reported 514 lab confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hertford County since March. That number is an increase of 77 cases since Wednesday of this week.

That sudden increase may be linked to a high number of confirmed cases at Accordius Creekside Care & Rehab in Ahoskie. There, ARHS reported 37 cases as of Friday, involving 25 residents and 12 staff members.

There are also four staff members and one resident at Ahoskie Assisted Living reportedly with the virus.

Additionally, there is a new outbreak at Rivers Correctional Institution, a private prison near Winton. Positive cases there are reported among six inmates and four staff members.

ARHS listed 69 of Hertford County’s cases as active.

Meanwhile, case counts are still on the rise in Bertie (397, up from 347 on Wednesday); and 79 in Gates (up from 67 on Wednesday).

Bertie has 55 active cases (336 recovered). Gates has 11 active cases (65 recovered).

ARHS reported several outbreaks in Bertie County: 14 staff and seven inmates at Bertie Correctional; four staff and two residents at Brian Center Health & Rehab; and three staff members at Three Rivers Health & Rehab. All three of those facilities are located in Windsor.

The Northampton County Health Department is reporting four new cases since Wednesday. Currently, there are only 13 active cases in the county among the 375 since the outbreak began.