COVID: 161 new cases in a week

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wise County increased by 161 between Dec. 1 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 6,074 — up from 5,913 one week earlier.
The number of Wise County COVID-19 deaths remained at 132.
As of yesterday, 243 Wise Countians were hospitalized with COVID.
Statewide, the total number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began rose from 716,564 Dec. 1 to 727,071 Wednesday, an increase of 10,507. The number of “probable” cases in Virginia rose from 254,965 Dec. 1 to 261,076 Wednesday, an increase of 6,111.
During the same period, the number of confirmed deaths increased by 93 to 12,460. The number of probable COVID-19 deaths increased by 15 to 2,378.

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

VACCINATION

Almost 53 percent of Wise County residents have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the health department.

Nearly 45 percent of residents are fully vaccinated.

Gov. Ralph Northam announced Nov. 12 that more than 83 percent of Virginia adults had received at least one dose, while 75 percent of adults are 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.