COVID-19 cases spiked in Gloucester and Mathews counties after the holiday season, but they’re now on the decline.

There have been 608 cases of the virus in Gloucester over the past 13 weeks, with four hospitalizations from the illness and five deaths, according to Three Rivers Health District Chief Operating Officer Brenden Rivenbark. During the same period, there were 190 cases, one hospitalization, and two deaths in Mathews, while Middlesex had 192 cases, one hospitalization, and one death.

Cases began to spike in late November and early December after relatively stable numbers before that. The peak occurred in early January, said Rivenbark. These data show that COVID-19 has phased into a cyclical illness, he said, much like the flu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and other respiratory illnesses.

“It’s obviously still a concern because it’s highly transmissible,” he said, “but it’s nothing that’s been overwhelming our health care system.”

Rivenbark pointed out that ...