RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Here’s the latest update from the Virginia Department of Health for Saturday, September 26.
According to the health department, Virginia now has 145,408 cases — 138,173 confirmed and 7,235 probable. This is an increase of 975 new reported cases since Friday.
A total of 10,864 people have been hospitalized due to the virus and 3,144 people have reportedly died because of it.

The 7-day positivity rate also decreased to 4.8 percent — three percentage points lower than Friday.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, first lady Pamela Northam test positive for COVID-19
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and first lady Pamela Northam have tested positive for COVID-19, the governor’s office announced on Friday.
The governor and first lady were alerted Wednesday that an Executive Mansion staff member who works closely within their living quarters had tested positive for the virus after developing symptoms. The couple “received PCR nasal swab tests” on Thursday afternoon and both tests came back positive. Read the full story here.
Upcoming testing locations
Richmond
- Tuesday, September 29 — Broad Rock Community Center 4 to 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 30 — The Saint Paul’s Baptist Church North 10 a.m. to noon
- Friday, October 2 —Eastern Henrico Health Department 1 to 4 p.m.
Chesterfield
- Monday, Sept. 28 — Cornerstone Church 5 to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Sept. 29 — United Methodist Church 5 to 7 p.m.
COVID-19 at local universities
Virginia Commonwealth University
As of Sept. 25, the college has reported:
- 39 active student cases and 4 active employee cases of COVID-19.
- 7 students are in isolation on campus.
- 12 students are in quarantine on campus.
As of Sept. 25, here is what the college has reported:
- 18 total cases and 2 active cases of COVID-19.
- The university said there were 25 people who tested positive before arriving on campus.
- 0.4 percent cumulative testing positivity rate
The university’s dashboard as of Sept. 25 shows that:
- 89 total (students and employees) active cases.
- 1,385 people have recovered from the virus since July.
- The overall positivity rate of the university’s health center’s test is 24.07%
- Read about one JMU student’s experience with COVID-19 here.
Local coronavirus cases

- Charles City County: 84 cases, 5 death
- Chesterfield County: 5,945 cases, 94 deaths
- City of Colonial Heights: 256 cases, 25 deaths
- City of Hopewell: 390 cases, 7 deaths
- City of Richmond: 4,625 cases, 61 deaths
- Dinwiddie County: 377 cases, 11 deaths
- Goochland County: 269 cases, 7 deaths
- Hanover County: 1,288 cases, 37 deaths
- Henrico County: 5,434 cases, 211 deaths
- New Kent County: 189 cases, 3 death
- Powhatan County: 221 cases, 5 deaths

- RICHMOND, Va. (VCU CNS) — Virginia universities plan a return to campuses in the fall, but there are questions if the COVID-19 vaccine can be mandated. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration only authorized the vaccine for emergency purposes, according to Lisa Lee, professor of public health at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The vaccine does […]
- Memorial Regional Medical Center reports uptick in ER patients, fewer COVID cases thanks to vaccinesWith more people getting vaccinated, doctors and nurses at Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center in Mechanicsville are seeing more patients for things other than COVID-19 and fewer patients with the virus.
- Coronavirus update: Free COVID-19 testing event in Richmond next week; Cases up by 1,261 in VirginiaThe Virginia Department of Health reported 1,261 new cases, which includes those who tested positive and people with known exposure to COVID-19.
- One volunteer of the two-year study said he is getting the booster shot for the safety of his family and those around him.
- The Chickahominy Health District including New Kent, Charles City, Goochland and Hanover are adjusting the way in which it is distributing vaccines to get closer to reaching herd immunity.
- The pandemic's not over yet.
- In light of “unprecedented risks” posed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Department of State has announced plans to update its current travel advisories to better reflect guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Texas A&M University researchers have identified a new COVID-19 variant that originated in the state.
- As of April 20, 25.4% of the state’s population has been fully vaccinated. Over three million people in the state have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose.
- As Virginia enters Phase 2 of the vaccination process, some health leaders say the demographic of who is being hospitalized with COVID-19 is shifting.