Columbus County hit a grim milestone the last 24 hours, topping the 100 mark in COVID-19 deaths.
The Health Department announced on social media that as of 9 a.m. Thursday (today), 103 people in Columbus have died from COVID-19. The number stood at 90 from Monday until the latest report.
The agency did not say whether the 13 latest deaths occurred over the past several days or all in the last 24 hours. Columbus County stopped providing detailed twice-weekly reports last week, citing a lack of personnel and the fact that the information is updated daily on the state COVID-19 dashboard.
“Please remember that the community transmission of COVID-19 in Columbus County is widespread,” the health department’s post said.
The county schools announced yesterday that in-person classes have been pushed back to Feb. 1, citing the widespread community transmission of the virus here. Classes will remain online until at least Feb. 1.
Officials are urging county residents to take all measures necessary to protect themselves, their families, and their community from COVID-19.
State and local officials are already strongly discouraging unnecessary travel, but anyone leaving home is reminded to was your hands and use sanitizer, wear a mask and wait six feet away from other people. Gatherings with people outside of one’s immediate family are not recommended.
