Infant, two children test positive for the coronavirus in one NC county
Three children have tested positive for coronavirus in Robeson County, including a 6-month-old infant, bucking the statewide trend of the pandemic striking middle-aged and elderly patients.
The county health department reported 31 new reported cases Thursday, bringing its total to 354, among the highest totals in the state. The other infected children are 9 and 11, according to the Robeson County Health Department’s Facebook page.
The report stands out in North Carolina because 42 percent of all positive test results statewide come from people aged 25 to 49 and another 48 percent are older, according to DHHS. So far, only 3 percent of the state’s reported cases come from those under 17.
In the state, no one that young has died from the virus, DHHS reported, and 86 percent of all COVID-19 fatalities statewide happen to people over 65. As of Thursday evening, Robeson County had four deaths overall.
Residents shared frustration and warnings in comments on the county health department Facebook page.
“People are everywhere without (a) mask just out standing, talking and kids running in and out of Wal-Mart!” wrote Connie Taylor. “This is not the beginning of what’s about to happen if people don’t stop gathering!”
About 100 miles south of Raleigh, Robeson County has roughly 130,000 residents, or roughly 11 percent of Wake, where there are 961 cases.
As of Friday morning, only Avery County on the Tennessee border had no positive tests. But DHHS warns that not all infected people have been tested, meaning the state’s total is likely higher.
This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 10:28 AM.