One week, 226 new cases, four deaths

September 16, 2021

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wise County increased by 226 between Sept. 8 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 4,209 — up from 3,983 one week earlier.
The number of Wise County COVID-19 deaths increased by four, from 111 to 115.

Statewide, the total number of confirmed cases across several months rose from 600,446 Sept. 8 to 616,680 Wednesday, an increase of 16,234. The number of “probable” cases in Virginia rose from 192,950 Sept. 8 to 202,124 Wednesday, an increase of 9,174.

During the same period, the number of confirmed deaths increased by 158 to 10,278. The number of probable COVID-19 deaths increased by 35 to 1,892.

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

VACCINATION

Nearly 48 percent of Wise County residents have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the health department.

However, almost 39 percent of residents are fully vaccinated.

Gov. Ralph Northam announced Aug. 12 that 73 percent of Virginians 18 and older had received at least one dose.

Meanwhile, the delta variant of the virus continues to fuel a rapidly-growing resurgence in cases across Virginia and the nation. The overwhelming majority of new cases are affecting people who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated.

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.