As the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus continues to spike case counts worldwide, Graham County felt the negative effects of the pandemic.
The Graham County Health Department confirmed in a pair of press releases that three residents have passed away as a result of the virus within the last week, bringing the total number of local COVID-related deaths to 17.
The deaths are the first since late June and make five overall in Graham County for 2021.
After reporting a leap of 43 new cases between Aug. 9-16, the largest single-week surge since the pandemic began, a total of 51 have been reported within the last week. There have been 2,108 county residents who have received the first shot, roughly 25 percent of the overall local population.
Monday’s data from the N.C. Department of Health & Human Services reported a total of 14,120 deaths statewide and a fully-vaccinated rate of 59 percent.
Pfizer became the first COVID-19 vaccine to be approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration on Monday. The Graham County Health Department is also accepting appointments for those interested in receiving a third Moderna vaccine, which is a “booster” to the two-shot process.