RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The number of new coronavirus cases dipped Saturday, as Virginia reported 1,584 additional infections and 20 deaths on the day after Christmas.
December has been one of the toughest months so far for the commonwealth, as the number of new cases has surged significantly with people continuing to gather together in groups for the holidays.
In total, the commonwealth has reported 329,577 cases and 4,840 COVID-19 deaths. Virginia’s current 7-day positivity rate — using PCR tests only — is 12.1%.
According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association’s dashboard, there are 2,454 patients in the hospital who either have COVID-19 or have test results that are pending. Of those patients, 548 are in the ICU and 299 are on a ventilator.
The VHHA’s dashboard also says that the ICU occupancy rate, with was 67% last year, is currently at 78%. Overall, nearly 30,000 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from the hospital in Virginia.
NEW COVID-19 VACCINE DASHBOARD
VDH has also set up a new COVID-19 vaccine dashboard which includes a summary of vaccinations and demographics.
Currently, the VDH said COVID-19 vaccines require two doses given three or four weeks apart. Both doses are needed to prevent or reduce the severity of the coronavirus. They said information entered into the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS) will allow providers to know when to give the second dose and which type of vaccine to give a patient.
As of Friday, a total of 43,043 doses have been administered but nobody in Virginia is fully vaccinated.
TRAVELING DURING PANDEMIC
Thousands of Virginians are getting ready to travel for the holiday season despite health officials recommending people stay home. As you head out make sure to check coronavirus restrictions in other states.
The CDC recommends following these steps to protect yourself and others when you travel:
- Maintain a distance of 6 feet (2 meters) between you and others as much as possible.
- Avoid contact with anyone who is sick
- Limit contact with frequently touched surfaces, such as handrails, elevator buttons and kiosks. If you must touch these surfaces, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands afterward.
- Wear a cloth face mask.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Clean your hands often. It’s especially important after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- If soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
TESTING LOCATIONS NEAR YOU
CHESTERFIELD
- Monday, Dec. 28 – 1 to 3 p.m. Second Baptist Church, 5100 West Hundred Road
- Tuesday, Dec. 29 – 10 a.m. to noon. Walmsley United Methodist Church, 2950 Walmsley Blvd.
- Wednesdays: Dec. 30 – 10 a.m. to noon. St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, 4400 Beulah Road
- Thursday: Dec. 31 – 10 a.m. to noon. Walmsley United Methodist Church, 2950 Walmsley Blvd.
RICHMOND
- Tuesday, Dec. 29 — 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. The Diamond, 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd
- Drive-thru event
- Call COVID-19 hotline to register, (804) 205-3501
Flu vaccines are also available every day Monday-Friday throughout December (closed on the 24th and 25th), 8:00 am-4:30 pm at Richmond City Health District (400 E Cary St, Richmond, VA 23220).
LOCAL COVID-19 CASES
- Charles City County: 184 cases, 8 deaths
- Chesterfield County: 12,321 cases, 164 deaths
- City of Colonial Heights: 575 cases, 28 deaths
- City of Hopewell: 816 cases, 10 deaths
- City of Richmond: 8,774 cases, 91 deaths
- Dinwiddie County: 838 cases, 14 deaths
- Goochland County: 594 cases, 7 deaths
- Hanover County: 3,589 cases, 69 deaths
- Henrico County: 11,650 cases, 287 deaths
- New Kent County: 599 cases, 5 death
- Powhatan County: 753 cases, 6 deaths
- Amid the COVID-19 pandemic set to kill well over two million people around the globe, an international countdown of what leading science and security experts say represents a threat to human existence remains stuck at about a two minute warning.
- The spread of the coronavirus across the Southwest U.S. may be attributed to visits to Las Vegas, according to a study from smart thermometer company Kinsa Health.
- You may have seen signs on Walgreens doors indicating its pharmacies don't yet have the COVID-19 vaccine available. But get ready, because it could be soon.
- The Virginia Department of Health is reporting 5,227 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases is 488,553. COVID-19 related deaths are up to 6,228.
- The study concluded prior to the emergence of more contagious coronavirus strains
- Governor Ralph Northam gave an update on the Virginia's COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
- A Washington state entrepreneur who describes himself as a biotech executive was arrested last week after prosecutors say he used social media to peddle untested, injectable COVID-19 "vaccines" on social media.
- Schools operating in person during the pandemic have seen little evidence of transmission when safety measures are taken, according to a group of researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- For nearly a year it was the Trump show. Now President Joe Biden is calling up the nation’s top scientists and public health experts to regularly brief the American public about the pandemic that has claimed more than 425,000 U.S. lives.
- Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is "not recommended" for pregnant women, according to a news release Tuesday from the World Health Organization.
