County sees four deaths, 164 new cases

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wise County increased by 164 between Oct. 13 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 5,160 — up from 4,996 one week earlier.
The number of Wise County COVID-19 deaths increased by four, from 122 to 126.

As of yesterday, 226 Wise Countians were hospitalized with COVID.
Statewide, the total number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began rose from 669,525 Oct. 13 to 678,066 Wednesday, an increase of 8,541 in one week. The number of “probable” cases in Virginia rose from 228,453 Oct. 13 to 233,255 Wednesday, an increase of 4,802.
During the same period, the number of confirmed deaths increased by 249 to 11,429.

The number of probable COVID-19 deaths increased by 51 to 2,156.

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

VACCINATION

Almost 50 percent of Wise County residents have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the health department.

About 42 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 keep the number of new cases high 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.