Two deaths, 593 new cases reported

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wise County increased by 593 between Feb. 2 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 9,314 — up from 8,721 one week earlier.
The number of Wise County COVID-19 deaths increased by two, from 161 to 163.

As of yesterday, 283 Wise Countians were hospitalized with COVID.
Locally and across Virginia, the omicron variant continues to spread.

Statewide, the total number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began rose from 1,111,496 Feb. 2 to 1,136,389 Wednesday, an increase of 24,893. The number of “probable” cases in Virginia rose from 446,887 Feb. 2 to 457,305 Wednesday, an increase of 10,418.

During the same period, the number of confirmed deaths increased by 730 to 14,348. The number of probable COVID-19 deaths increased by 163 to 2,957.

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

VACCINATION

As of Monday, more than 54 percent of Wise County residents had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the health department.

About 47 percent of residents had received a second dose.

About 18 percent had received a booster or third dose.

Former 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 had received a second dose.

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.