County marks 220 new cases, two more deaths

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wise County increased by 220 between Sept. 15 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 4,429 — up from 4,209 one week earlier.
The number of Wise County COVID-19 deaths increased by two, from 115 to 117.

Statewide, the total number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began rose from 616,680 Sept. 15 to 632,502 Wednesday, an increase of 15,822 in one week. The number of “probable” cases in Virginia rose from 202,124 Sept. 15 to 210,710 Wednesday, an increase of 8,586.

During the same period, the number of confirmed deaths increased by 192 to 10,470. The number of probable COVID-19 deaths increased by 47 to 1,939.

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

VACCINATION

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

However, only 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.