RICHMOND – COVID-19-related deaths and active cases again are up in Ray County, and cases are affecting students in the Richmond and Excelsior Springs school districts. The Ray County Health Department’s latest report, issued Sept. 16, showed the virus claimed two more lives in the past week, with the total being 42, up from the 40 deaths recorded Sept. 9. The department listed 105 active cases last week – up six from the Sept. 9 report of 99, or another 6%. The number of COVID-19 cases is up, but the one-week percentage of increase is down from the previous increase of 21%. About 1 in 3 Ray Countians, or 33.3% is vaccinated fully, 0.6% more than in the previous week, department information states. Since the start of the month in Ray County, the virus has claimed three more lives and infected 26 more people – 34.6% more than at the end of August. The state percentage for being vaccinated fully is 46.9%, based on the Missouri COVID-19 dashboard. The national percentage for being…