Halifax County Health Director Bruce Robistow said today’s report on COVID-19 is beginning to show a decline in cases.

“I am happy to report that we had a substantial decline from last week’s substantial spike,” he said. “Regretfully we have added three COVID-related deaths. Percent positives remain up from last week and our trend line continues to reflect an upward trend.”

Robistow said 52 percent of the eligible population are partially vaccinated and 49 percent are fully vaccinated.

“My overall assessment of the data is that we are returning to a decline in cases as is reflected throughout the state and the country combined with the recent progress made with FDA approval for booster shots and vaccinations for children 5 to 11.”

He said he is “cautiously optimistic that we’re moving in a positive direction in regard to COVID-19.”

However, he said, although the FDA has approved the vaccines for children 5 to 11 and the booster vaccine, the health department continues to wait for CDC approval and guidance from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. “The Halifax County COVID-19 mitigation team — the health department, Rural Health Group, DrugCo Pharmacy, Vidant North Hospital, Vidant Medical Group and Halifax County — are actively planning to have multiple vaccine sites established upon receiving CDC approval and department of health and human services guidance.”

Robistow said the anticipation is the health department will begin those clinics by the first week in November. “We are optimistic that there will be high demand for the booster and encourage all parents to take advantage of this vaccine offering for children ages 5-11. Working together we can get COVID-19 under control.” 

Today the health department added 105 new positive cases of the virus, bringing the cumulative total since March of last year to 7,820. Of those, 7,398 — 94.97 percent — have recovered. There are 258 active cases. The death toll related to COVID-19 now stands at 136 after three additional deaths were added today.

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Total number of positives by ZIP code beginning March 25, 2020 – today:

Enfield (27823) –1,086 cases

Halifax (27839) – 398 cases 

Hobgood (27843) – 171 cases 

Hollister (27844) – 425 cases

Littleton (27850) – 648 cases 

Roanoke Rapids (27870) – 4,257 cases 

Scotland Neck (27874) – 590 cases

Weldon (27890) – 325 cases

Cases by Date of Earliest Illness Identification and Race/Ethnicity 

The numbers for the past week decreased.

Percent Positive of COVID-19 Cases

The percent positives has decreased over the past week with an average of 8.6 percent as of today.

Cases by Date of Earliest Illness Identification and Age  

Ages 25-49 represent the largest age groups who have tested positive this past week.

Cases by Date of Earliest Illness Identification and Congregate Living Setting Association

The numbers for the past week increased.

Halifax County Vaccination Status 

26,227 people at least partially vaccinated — 52 percent of the population

24,323 people fully vaccinated — 49 percent of the population 

Northampton County

The health department reported Tuesday there have been 2,530 total positive cases of which 2,431 have recovered. There were 27 active cases. There have been 72 related deaths.