SALISBURY — Rowan County Public Health officials on Thursday confirmed 75% of COVID-19-related deaths in Rowan County are former residents of the Citadel, a local nursing home where there is a large outbreak.

In its latest report, public health officials said 15 of 20 deaths were from the Julian Road facility, four were NC State Veterans Home residents and one person was not a patient at a congregate care facility.

The average age of the 20 patients was 83, officials said.

Public Health Director Nina Oliver has said the majority of the positive cases here have been spread from person-to-person. Oliver said during a Thursday community leader’s meeting that people continue to not adhere to social distancing, handwashing and travel guidelines.

She also said adhering to the guidelines is the best way to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

On Thursday, there were 1,964 total tests conducted in the county. Of those tests, 288 have been positive and 1,676 negative. In addition, 18 people were hospitalized Thursday, 72 have recovered and health officials are following up with 177.

Officials said of those positive cases more females, 165, tested positive than males, 122.

Other data includes:

• The racial makeup of positive tests include 148 among white individuals, 70 black or African-American, 45 unknown, 19 white/Hispanic, two other and two Asian.

• The largest number of positive cases are among those who are 65 years or older — 127 cases. There are 51 cases among individuals 51 to 64 years old, 51 cases for those 36 to 50 years old, 57 for those 18 to 35 years old. One person under the age of 18 tested has positive.

According to the NC Department of Health and Human Services, there are 7,608 positive cases in the state, with 253 deaths, from 96,185 completed tests. The state agency said 93 counties are reporting that 486 people are currently hospitalized.