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For the first time since the week of Sept. 5-11, there were no COVID-19 related deaths in the Roanoke-Chowan area last week.

Meanwhile, the number of active cases of the virus continues to dwindle or is unchanged from last week as follows:

Northampton County: 36 (same as last week)

Bertie County: 17 (same as last week)

Hertford County: 29 (a decrease of 9 cases from the previous week)

Gates County: 11 (-8)

In its weekly report, Albemarle Regional Health Services (ARHS) noted the number of residents fully vaccinated in its eight-county district rose above 62 percent (62.43%). The report shows a total of 85,184 individuals fully vaccinated (an increase of 725 people since the previous week). That number is over 1,500 higher than two weeks ago.

Locally, fully vaccinated individuals in the ARHS region include 5,525 in Bertie (+7 from last week’s report); 4,921 in Hertford (+9); and 3,905 in Gates (+7).

As of Friday, Oct. 29, ARHS has also administered 1,620 booster doses (third shots of the Pfizer vaccine; an increase of 98 from the previous week).

With last week’s approval by the FDA and the CDC to authorize COVID-19 booster doses of Moderna and Johnson and Johnson, ARHS has scheduled mass vaccination clinics. Locally, those clinics are scheduled for:

Hertford County: Wednesday, Nov. 3, from 9 am – 3 pm at the Ahoskie Creek Amphitheater, located at 125 Edgewood Drive, Ahoskie; and

Bertie County: Wednesday, Nov. 10, from 9 am – 3 pm at the Bertie County Recreation Complex, located at 1538 South King Street, Windsor.

These clinics are for Moderna booster doses only and recommended for individuals who received their second dose at least six months ago and who are at high risk for severe illness or exposure based on their age, profession, living setting or health conditions.

ARHS officials say that those ages 65 and older and those ages 18 and older who reside in a long-term care setting should receive a Moderna booster six months or more after completing their primary series. The booster is also recommended for individuals, ages 50-64, with certain underlying medical conditions.

Those ages 18-49 years with underlying medical conditions and those ages 18-64 years at increased risk for exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting should consider receiving a booster shot six months or more after completing their primary series.

Please bring your vaccine card with you to the drive-thru clinic so staff can verify your previous vaccine series. In addition, please do not arrive to clinic sites prior to 8:30 am.

If you do not have your vaccine card, or would like to receive a different type of booster dose, please make an appointment at your local health department: Gates County Health Dept. (252-357-1380), the Bertie County Health Dept. (252-794-5322), or the Hertford County Health Dept. (252-862-4054). Those who have yet to receive their initial doses of any of the approved vaccines can schedule an appointment by calling those same numbers.

Northampton County residents can call 252-534-5841 to schedule an appointment for either a COVID-19 vaccine or a booster shot.