According to a COVID-19 update release from the Three Rivers Health District, the district is “experiencing indicators of increased community transmission.”
Mathews is the only jurisdiction in Three Rivers Health District that is below five cases per 100,000 moving seven-day average. Gloucester has been reported as having between 5-10 cases per 100,000 and Middlesex has over 10 cases per 100,000.
The health district experienced 132 new cases of COVID-19 last week which is “the largest single week increase in cases since the pandemic began.”
According to the Virginia Department of Health, Gloucester’s COVID-19 case count increased 15 this past week for a total of 226 cases as of Wednesday morning. Mathews saw eight new cases this past week with a total of 31 cases Wednesday morning with no new hospitalizations and zero deaths.
Middlesex was reported as having 83 cases which was an increase of 21 cases from last week and had one new hospitalization for a total of seven hospitalizations. VDH reported seven new deaths attributed to COVID-19 for Middlesex this past week for a total of eight deaths. This was not the only locality in Virginia to experience a sharp increase in death reports.
To account for the sudden jump in COVID-19 deaths reported in Virginia this week, the VDH reported Tuesday that there is an existing backlog for the death count data. According to district director Dr. Richard Williams, “death counts lagged behind reality in the database.”
Last week in the health district, an outbreak was identified at a correctional facility and another one was identified as relating to a congregate setting. There was also a resurgence reported of a previous outbreak from a long-term health care facility.
“The main source of community transmission appears to be individual exposures and private events,” stated the Three Rivers release.
“We all must redouble our efforts to mask in public, practice social distancing in all venues, stay out of crowds, wash our hands, and practice good sanitation, to help reduce the threat of a viral surge,” continued the release. “The SARS CoV 2 virus [the virus that causes COVID-19] will readily exploit any opportunities to spread.”
As of Wednesday morning, there were 136,359 cases statewide, 10,389 hospitalizations and 2,884 deaths attributed to COVID-19. That was an increase of 7,070 cases, 381 hospitalizations and 187 deaths.
Three Rivers had a total of 1,541 cases, 103 hospitalizations and 27 deaths reported Wednesday morning. There was an increase of 157 cases, eight new hospitalizations and seven new deaths from this Wednesday morning to last Wednesday.
Testing
Over 1.7 million PCR tests have been administered in Virginia since the pandemic began with a seven-day positivity rate of 6.9 percent.
In Three Rivers, there have been 27,548 PCR tests conducted in the health district so far with a seven-day positivity rate of 7.5 percent.
Flu vaccine
The Three Rivers Health District will be hosting free drive-thru flu vaccination events this month and in October for people who are 10 years of age and older.
“These events will prepare us for the upcoming large vaccination effort when COVID-19 vaccines are available,” stated the release. “It is more important than ever to get our flu vaccine, to reduce flu case rates and help lessen confusion with COVID-19 cases, which may look just like the flu.”