RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Here’s the latest from the Virginia Department of Health on the coronavirus for Saturday, December 5.
The state reported 3,793 new cases of the COVID-19 this morning — this is the largest daily increase of new reported cases since the pandemic began. The VDH said this increase is due to a backlog.
The total number of coronavirus cases in Virginia is now 251,173.
The state’s positivity rate also increased up to 10 percent. We can expect this trend to keep rising because of people getting tested before and after the holidays this month.

There have been a total of 1,601 COVID-19 outbreaks since the pandemic started leading to 35,276 associated cases.
Hospitalizations in Virginia are also on the rise. The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association is reporting that the total number of currently hospitalized patients with a confirmed positive result for COVID-19 is 1,508.
TESTING LOCATIONS NEAR YOU
- Mondays: Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28 – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Second Baptist Church, 5100 West Hundred Road
- Tuesdays: Dec. 8, 15, 22, 29 – 10 a.m. to noon. Walmsley United Methodist Church, 2950 Walmsley Blvd.
- Wednesdays: Dec. 9, 16, 30 – 10 a.m. to noon. St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, 4400 Beulah Road
- Thursdays: Dec. 3, 10, 17, 31 – 10 a.m. to noon. Walmsley United Methodist Church, 2950 Walmsley Blvd.
- Fridays: Dec. 4, 11, 18 – 10 a.m. to noon. Second Baptist Church, 5100 West Hundred Road
- Friday: Dec. 4 – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Eastern Henrico Health Department on 1400 N Laburnum Ave.
- Saturdays: Dec. 5, 12, 19 – 10 a.m. to noon. Chesterfield Health Department, Smith-Wagner Building Multi-Purpose Room, 9501 Lucy Corr Circle
OUTBREAKS AT LOCAL UNIVERSITIES
Virginia Commonwealth University
As of Dec. 3, the university has reported:
- 30 active student cases and 8 active employee cases of COVID-19.
- 4 students in isolation on campus.
- 13 students are in quarantine on campus.
As of Dec. 2, here is what the university has reported:
- 101 total cases and 5 active case of COVID-19.
- The university said the monthly testing positivity rate for November is 1.2 percent.
The university’s dashboard as of Dec. 3, shows that:
- 9 total (students and employees) active cases.
- 1,666 people have recovered from the virus since July.
- Read about one JMU student’s experience with COVID-19 here.
LOCAL COVID-19 CASES

Chesterfield County reported 142 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours — the highest daily increase the locality has seen since it began recording. Henrico County was close behind, reporting 128 new cases of the coronavirus.
- Charles City County: 150 cases, 7 deaths
- Chesterfield County: 9,874 cases, 135 deaths
- City of Colonial Heights: 451 cases, 26 deaths
- City of Hopewell: 651 cases, 9 deaths
- City of Richmond: 6,960 cases, 82 deaths
- Dinwiddie County: 699 cases, 14 deaths
- Goochland County: 476 cases, 7 deaths
- Hanover County: 2,622 cases, 56 deaths
- Henrico County: 8,838 cases, 260 deaths
- New Kent County: 422 cases, 4 death
- Powhatan County: 511 cases, 6 deaths

- Gov. Ralph Northam further adjusted Executive Order 72 on Wednesday. The order which went into effect in December — and has been changed multiple times since then — establishes Virginia's current COVID-19 restrictions.
- 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.