RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — As we enter October, here is the latest COVID-19 data from the Virginia Department of Health.
The health department is reporting 148,721 total cases of COVID-19, this represents an increase of 450 cases since yesterday. 3,228 people — 3,015 confirmed and 213 probable — have died from COVID-19.
The state’s daily case count and percent positivity are following a downward trend. The state’s positivity rate remains at 4.5 percent.
If you would like to get tested for COVID-19, the following testing locations are free.
RICHMOND
- Thursday, October 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 — Cornerstone AG Church, 4 to 5 p.m.
- Friday, October 2 —Eastern Henrico Health Department 1 to 4 p.m.
- Monday, October 5, 12, 19 and 26 — Cornerstone AG Church 4 to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 6, 13, 20 and 27 — United Methodist Church 4 to 5 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 7 and 14 — St. Augustine Catholic Church 10 to 11 a.m.
CHESTERFIELD
- Friday, October 2, 9 and 16 — Beulah United Methodist Church 10 to 11 a.m.
- Saturday, October 10, 17, 24 and 31 — Faith and Family Church 5 to 6 p.m.
Stoney: Trick-or-treating is not canceled but suggests families celebrate safely at home
Mayor Levar Stoney said people need to celebrate Halloween and other holidays safely. He said while trick-or-treating was not “canceled” he suggests people celebrate safely at home.
Some suggestions Stoney gave included having a virtual costume contest and holding a pumpkin carving contest at home. The mayor added a lot of neighborhoods have already cancelled their holiday block parties and thanked them for their selflessness.
Can the coronavirus travel more than 6 feet in the air?
Research indicates it can, but it’s not clear how much of the pandemic is caused by such cases.
People spray liquid droplets of various sizes when they cough, sneeze, talk, sing, shout and even just breathe. The coronavirus can hitchhike on these particles.
The advice about staying at least 6 feet apart is based on the idea that the larger particles drop to the ground before getting very far.
Deerfield Correctional Center reports 18th COVID-19 inmate death
Deerfield Correctional Center has reported another coronavirus-related inmate death, bringing the facility’s total to 18.
As of Wednesday, Sept. 30, the Southampton-area correctional center houses 68 COVID-stricken inmates. Ten inmates remain hospitalized with the disease.
COVID-19 at local universities
Virginia Commonwealth University
As of Sept. 30, the college has reported:
- 24 active student cases and 6 active employee cases of COVID-19.
- 9 students are in isolation on campus.
- 28 students are in quarantine on campus.
As of Sept. 30, here is what the college has reported:
- 19 total cases and 3 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 Oct. 1 shows that:
- 60 total (students and employees) active cases.
- 1,451 people have recovered from the virus since July.
- The overall positivity rate of the university’s health center’s test is 23.14%
- Read about one JMU student’s experience with COVID-19 here.
Local coronavirus cases
- Charles City County: 413 cases, 12 deaths
- Chesterfield County: 23,997 cases, 365 deaths
- City of Colonial Heights: 1,414 cases, 50 deaths
- City of Hopewell: 2,171 cases, 58 deaths
- City of Petersburg: 3,251 cases, 68 deaths
- City of Richmond: 15,041 cases, 218 deaths
- Dinwiddie County: 1,849 cases, 36 deaths
- Goochland County: 1,236 cases, 17 deaths
- Hanover County: 6,824 cases, 140 deaths
- Henrico County: 21,785 cases, 542 deaths
- New Kent County: 1,268 cases, 13 death
- Powhatan County: 1,670 cases, 10 deaths
- Some patients diagnosed with COVID-19 may experience an odd symptom: rash-like inflammation of the toes.
- The Virginia Department of Health is reporting 1,477 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, with 91 new deaths. The state's positivity rate remains at 6.3%.
- Many Virginians are anxiously awaiting their chance to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The best way to ensure the state knows you want your shot is to pre-register on the Vaccinate Virginia website.
- Some Virginia residents are raising concerns about COVID-19 vaccination scheduling. They told 8News, they're worried that there could be a potential to miss an opportunity for an appointment, as the Department of Health is reaching out through unknown numbers.
- Some New York lawmakers are calling for Gov. Andrew Cuomo's impeachment after reports late Thursday that his top aides altered a state Health Department report to omit the true number of people killed by COVID-19 in the state's nursing homes.
- A total of 763,439 people have been fully vaccinated in Virginia. According to the most recent Census data, there are 8,535,519 people living in the state.
- Health experts are trying to determine how effective the COVID-19 vaccine is at stopping the spread of the virus.
- A family is grieving a loss as painful as it is surprising. They believe 48-year-old father Ben Price took his own life after developing a rare and little understood phenomenon called "COVID psychosis."
- The Crater Health District will now be holding COVID-19 vaccination clinics at Virginia State University. The first clinic will kick off at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the VSU Multi-Purpose Center.
- Some people are now scouring the internet on the hunt for vaccine events and possible extra doses. They then show up at local pharmacies hoping to score a shot.
