SALISBURY — Local statistics show 10 COVID-19 deaths reported this week.

Rowan County reported two deaths on Tuesday, three on Thursday, three more on Friday and two on Saturday.

The new deaths continued to grow the share of coronavirus fatalities outside of nursing homes or residential care facilities. There have now been 136 reported outside of congregate living facilities. However, two deaths reported Friday and Saturday were at Compass Assisted Living, which seen seven deaths, 28 resident cases and one employee case in its current outbreak.

There have been 74 COVID-19 deaths reported this year in Rowan County and 246 since the start of the pandemic. While report dates lag behind dates of death, state statistics show fatalities have occurred more frequently in 2021, with at least one recorded on most days in January.

The average age of COVID-19 deaths remained unchanged this week at 78.

The number of Rowan County residents hospitalized stayed flat this week, at 29. Hospital beds in use, which counts people from elsewhere seeking care here, improved. On Saturday, the county said there were 84 beds in use of the 127 allocated for COVID-19 patients — a decrease of 17 for beds in use and an increase of 12 in beds allocated.

COVID-19 positives increased by an average of 110 per day — the highest of any week this year. The county reports 3,371 COVID-19 positives in 2021 and 12,085 since the start of the pandemic. Statistics from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services show hundreds more positives in Rowan County than local statistics, but health officials were not able to explain why that was the case this week.

Total COVID-19 tests conducted locally increased by 4,168 this week — from 108,345 to 112,622.

The number of people vaccinated with their first dose in Rowan County is 7,055, and 749 people have received their second dose, according to statistics released Thursday.

Starting next week, the Rowan County Health Department will now schedule first vacation drive-thru events on Thursdays instead of Wednesdays. A news release says the change is because of a shift in the way vaccines are allocated. Second doses will now be administered on Wednesdays.

Both events will remain at West End Plaza, 1935 Jake Alexander Boulevard West. Registration for first vaccination appointments will open at 10 a.m. Monday, with people able to register by visiting rowancountync.gov/1671/First-Dose-Clinics. People can also call the county’s COVID-19 hotline at 980-432-1800, but wait times may be long because of the anticipated call volume.

People scheduled to receive their second dose will receive a phone call from the COVID-19 hotline or an email from noreply@everbridge.net with the subject line “RoCo COVID Info.”