Area sees five new cases, one more death

The Virginia Department of Health reported yesterday morning that Wise County’s total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the months since the pandemic began increased by two since last Thursday, from 3,274 to 3,276.

The county’s total number of deaths associated with COVID-19 increased by one to 104.

Meanwhile, the health department’s cumulative positive case count for Norton increased by three, from 289 to 292.

The number of total deaths in the city remained at seven.
Statewide, the total number of confirmed cases across several months rose from 529,672 Thursday to 530,001 yesterday, an increase of 329. The number of “probable” cases rose from 150,892 Thursday to 151,193 yesterday, an increase of 301.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Virginia increased by 13 to 9,651. The number of probable COVID-19 deaths was revised down by one, to 1,780. The reason was not immediately clear.

To look at the health department’s data, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov and go to the COVID-19 Data and Resources section.

REMINDERS

As of yesterday, 15,044 Wise County residents had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the health department. That’s about 40 percent of the population as it was estimated in 2019, at nearly 37,400.

As of yesterday, 1,785 Norton residents had gotten at least one dose. That’s almost 45 percent of the estimated 2019 population of 3,981.
Gov. Ralph Northam announced June 21 that 70 percent of Virginians 18 and older had received at least one dose.

The commonwealth continues to see a significant decline in new virus cases, hospitalizations and deaths, the governor noted.

Virginia ended all COVID-19 mitigation measures May 28. The state of emergency that was declared March 12, 2020 expired June 30.

However, guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention specifies that those who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks, practice physical distancing and avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.