Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Roanoke-Chowan area was free of COVID-19 related deaths last week.

Meanwhile, the number of local active cases continues to show that the virus, while still deadly for those with compromised immune systems and/or in poor general health, appears to be loosening its grip.

Active cases are down this week in both Hertford (one case) and Bertie (three) counties. Gates County reported 10 active cases as of June 4 while the Northampton County Health Department said there were 12 active cases as of Monday of this week.

Across northeastern North Carolina, Albemarle Regional Health Services (ARHS) reported no new outbreaks of the virus within congregate living facilities.

There were 52 active cases last week within the eight counties served by ARHS. Nearly one-half (23) of those cases were in Pasquotank County.

ARHS is continuing to accept vaccine appointments (for anyone ages 12-and-over) for first and second dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and the single dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine at each of their health departments in the R-C area as shown below:

Bertie County 252-794-5322

Gates County 252-357-1380

Hertford County 252-862-4054

The Northampton County Health Department continues to provide vaccinations for its citizens, ages 12-and-up. Call 252-534-5841 to schedule for an appointment.

If you received your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine with another provider such as Walgreens or CVS, you will need to return to that same facility for your second dose.

The percentage of North Carolina’s adult population who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 is slowly increasing. As of June 4, NCDHHS reported 53.4 percent of the adult population are at least partially vaccinated while 49.2 percent are fully vaccinated.

The statewide death toll is 13,216 since the pandemic began in March of last year.