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It was another deadly week across the Roanoke-Chowan area as COVID-19 still has the region in its grips.

For the second consecutive week, six local residents died due to complications with the virus. Five of the six were residents of Bertie County, all ages 65-and-over. None were associated with a facility outbreak.

Northampton County also reported a COVID-related death last week.

The loss of these six individuals increased the COVID-19 death toll to 242 in the R-C area since the pandemic began in March 2020.

To date, Hertford County’s death toll is 81 followed by Northampton (76), and Bertie (66) and Gates (20).

Outbreaks at local congregate living facilities also remain problematic. Albemarle Regional Health Services (ARHS) reports 170 cases (100 inmates and 70 staff members) of the virus at Bertie Correctional Institute in Windsor; 45 cases (36 residents / 9 staff) at Accordius at Creekside Care of Ahoskie; 22 cases (14 staff / 8 residents) at the Brian Center in Windsor; 17 cases (12 staff / 5 residents) at Accordius of Gates; 10 cases (9 staff / 1 resident) at the Gates House; 15 cases (12 staff / 3 residents) at Three Rivers Health & Rehab of Windsor; 7 cases (4 staff / 3 residents) at the Windsor House; and 6 cases (3 staff / 3 residents) at the Ahoskie House.

As of Feb. 2, the Northampton County Health Department reported 183 active cases, down from 255 one week prior.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported 67 newly diagnosed COVID cases last week in Bertie County; 41 in Hertford County; and 33 in Gates County.

Because of the data missing from home testing, ARHS said two weeks ago that they will discontinue the practice of providing information on the number of active cases within its eight-county service district, which includes Bertie, Gates and Hertford.

Northampton County Health officials said that due to large amounts of data coming into the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the number of cases may not reflect the current Northampton County positive cases at the moment.

COVID-19 vaccinations and testing remain available in the local area. For more information contact the Gates County Health Dept. (252-357-1380), the Bertie County Health Dept. (252-794-5322), the Hertford County Health Dept. (252-862-4054) or the Northampton County Health Department (252-534-5841).

Vidant Health has 14 locations across eastern North Carolina to help you get tested for COVID-19. If you need a test, please visit VidantHealth.com/safecommunities to find a Vidant testing location near you. Due to significant demand for COVID testing, please expect delays.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported 12,335 newly reported cases and 4,725 hospitalized on Feb. 2. Those numbers are down from 20,286 new cases and 5,090 hospitalized from the previous week.

NC DHHS reminds everyone that the COVID-19 vaccine is available for free to all who want it. Vaccination is now open to everyone 5 and older. Visit MySpot.nc.gov to find a location.

To strengthen and extend protections against COVID-19, boosters are now available to all North Carolinians ages 12 and older. You should get a booster as soon as you are eligible.

If you received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you can get your booster five months after your second shot. If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you can get your booster two months after your shot.

You can choose any brand of COVID-19 vaccine for your booster shot. Limited preliminary evidence suggests that booster doses of one of the two mRNA vaccines — Moderna or Pfizer — more effectively raise antibody levels than a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The CDC also recommends a third dose of Pfizer for children ages 5 to 11 who have compromised immune systems.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccines, visit YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov or call the COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center for free at 1-888-675-4567.