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For the second consecutive week, COVID-19 did not claim a life in the Roanoke-Chowan area.

However, the number of local active cases of the virus did increase last week: a combined 59 in the four R-C area counties compared to 39 the week prior.

As of April 9, Hertford County was reporting 27 active cases, an increase of 13 cases. The number of active cases also rose in Northampton County, from eight to 19.

That number was in the single digits in the other two local counties: nine cases in Bertie, and four in Gates.

Due to the decreasing demand and interest for COVID-19 vaccines in individuals in Priority Groups 1-4, the Northampton County Health Department has started vaccinating any individual, ages 18 and older regardless of Priority Group. To schedule an appointment, call the Northampton County Health Department at 252-534-5841.

Albemarle Regional Health Services (ARHS) is still accepting appointments for Moderna first dose vaccines at each of their eight local health departments, which includes Bertie, Gates and Hertford counties. Appointments will be available to residents of the region who are 18 and older. Please call your local health department to make an appointment to receive your first dose of vaccine.

Individuals in the ARHS region seeking a second dose of Moderna are eligible if they received their first dose of the Moderna vaccine on or before Thursday, March 18. You will need to bring the vaccine card you received with your first dose with you to these clinics. If you do not have your card, you may experience additional delays, or may be turned away and rescheduled because we have to verify your first dose for your safety.

There will be a second dose, drive-thru clinic for the Moderna vaccine from 2-6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14 at the Bertie High School parking lot.

As of April 9, ARHS reported that 48.92 percent of the region’s population (ages 18-and-over) have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The percentage of the region’s population who are fully vaccinated stands at 39.5 percent.

ARHS continues to collaborate with OptumServe to provide additional, no-cost COVID-19 testing sites in Bertie, Hertford, Gates, and Chowan counties. Typically testing is available Monday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesday and Friday from 1 – 5 p.m. You may check availability and register to make an appointment for testing by visiting https://lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling (877) 562-4850.