After a month of continually declining case rates, COVID-19 cases increased sharply in Virginia and across the U.S. over the past week.
According to a press release from Dr. Richard Williams, Medical Director of the Three Rivers Health District, the number of cases nationwide nearly doubled during the past week, from 63,000 a day over a seven-day average as of Nov. 29 to 123,799 a day over a seven-day average as of Dec. 6.
The increase in Virginia wasn’t quite as dramatic, but still concerning, with cases rising from 1,468 per day last week to 2,264 per day during this past week, a 54 percent increase. The number of hospitalizations statewide increased, as well, from 877 people hospitalized per day over a seven-day average last week to 1,077 people per day over a seven-day average this past week, a 23 percent increase.
In the Three Rivers Health District, there was a sharp increase in cases of 41 percent, according to Dr. Williams. However, because the health district reports cases from Monday to Monday, while the Gazette-Journal reports them from Wednesday to Wednesday, the district numbers reported here from last week to this week do not reflect the sharp increase mentioned by the health district. Instead, that increase occurred during the previous reporting period. There were 263 new cases in the district from last Wednesday to this Wednesday, for a total of 16,358 since the pandemic began. Last week, there were 235 new cases, which was a 53 percent increase over the 141 cases reported week before.
The increase in cases was not accompanied by a significant increase in hospitalizations or deaths, however, with the district recording two new hospitalizations during the past week, for a total of 568, and one additional death, for a total of 306 since the pandemic began.
Local numbers
Locally, case rates remained relatively stable, while hospitalizations and deaths showed no increase. Gloucester had 43 new cases during the past week, bringing the total for the county to 4,073 since the pandemic began. Mathews had 12 new cases, for a total of 933, and Middlesex had 14, for a total of 1,001.
Hospitalizations remained at 92 for Gloucester, 28 for Mathews, and 35 for Middlesex, while deaths remained at 80, 24, and 33, respectively.
Omicron variant
As of Monday, the Omicron variant of the COVID virus had been found in 17 states in the U.S. and 40 countries around the globe, said Williams, “and the list is growing rapidly.” While the variant is proving to be highly contagious, he said, it has resulted in mild disease in South Africa, at least in the early stages.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided a COVID-19 Surveillance Worksheet for use in all U.S. jurisdictions, said Williams, along with details on case investigation, contact tracing, and reporting Omicron cases.
“It is not known at this point whether our current vaccines and natural immunity from previous infection will be effective against Omicron infection,” he said. “Most public health authorities are optimistic that we will continue to be protected.”
Williams recommended “in the strongest possible terms” that everyone eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine get vaccinated.
“Vaccines will remain readily available to all unvaccinated individuals as our highest priority,” he said.
Vaccination clinics
A Pfizer vaccination clinic for ages 12 and up will be held from 10 a.m. to noon today, Thursday, Dec. 9, at the Gloucester Health Department, 6689 Main Street, in the Main Street Center.
A Moderna vaccination clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at the Mathews Health Department, 536 Church Street, Mathews.
Flu vaccine
Williams urged residents to get their flu shots, as well. “The flu season is likely to be far more severe than we saw last year,” he said, adding that the flu shot is widely available and that the COVID-19 vaccine can be given at the same time.