COVID-19 cases rose sharply across the U.S. during the past week, with around 195,700 new cases recorded per day over a seven-day average.
According to the weekly update from Dr. Richard Williams, medical director of the Three Rivers Health Director, the Omicron variant is fueling the “unprecedented rise in cases.” Virginia cases increased sharply, as well, he said, with around 6,096 new cases per day over a seven-day average and 1,672 people are currently hospitalized statewide with the virus.
“This is well beyond the recent Delta peak, approaching the peak of the surge we experienced in January of 2021,” he said.
The Three Rivers Health District saw a rise, as well, recording 576 new cases during the period from last Wednesday to this Wednesday, for a total of 17,578 cases since the pandemic began. There were also 15 new hospitalizations in the district, for a total of 568 since February 2020, and four district residents died, bringing the total to 317.
Statewide, the numbers were 53,126 new cases, for a total of 1,087,400 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, 1,266 new hospitalizations, for a total of 41,337, and 317 deaths of Virginia residents, for a total of 15,541.
A note from the Virginia Department of Health stated that 167 cases were included in the statewide total that occurred previously during the year. These were cases in which the people became ill in other states and the numbers were added to Virginia at year’s end. None of these cases were in Gloucester, Mathews or Middlesex.
Local cases, hospitalizations, deaths
In Gloucester, 142 new cases of COVID were recorded during the past week, bringing the total number to 4,379 cases over the past 20 months. Three Gloucester residents were hospitalized with the virus during the week, for a total of 89, but there were no additional deaths, leaving the total at 83.
Mathews saw 29 new cases between last Wednesday and this Wednesday, for a total of 994 since the pandemic began, with one new hospitalization, for a total of 28, and no deaths, leaving the count at 24.
In Middlesex, 41 cases were recorded during the week, bringing the total to 1,101, with one new hospitalization, for a total of 35, and no deaths added to the 34 that already occurred.
Vaccine clinic
A Johnson & Johnson vaccination clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. next Thursday, Jan. 6, at the Middlesex Health Department, 2780 General Puller Highway, Saluda.