County records three new cases

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wise County increased by three between June 16 and Wednesday.

The Virginia Department of Health reported Wednesday morning that the county’s total confirmed cases in the months since the pandemic began had risen to 3,271 — up from 3,269 one week earlier.

The number of Wise County COVID-19 deaths remained at 102.

Statewide, the total number of confirmed cases across several months rose from 527,938 June 16 to 528,684 Wednesday, an increase of 746. The number of “probable” cases in Virginia rose from 150,288 June 16 to 150,453 Wednesday, an increase of 165.
During the same period, the number of confirmed deaths increased by 36 to 9,601. The number of probable COVID-19 deaths increased by two to 1,767.

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 Wednesday, 14,833 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.

Monday, Gov. Ralph Northam announced that 70 percent of Virginians 18 and older have 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 is set to expire 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.