As COVID-19 cases have dropped both statewide and locally, vaccination rates continue to increase.

According to Three Rivers Health District’s weekly pandemic update, Virginia cases have continued to decrease with an average of 1,621 cases per day on a seven-day average. Vaccination rates also continue to rise in Virginia; at present, about 72 percent of the state’s total population is fully vaccinated.

Cases within the district are decreasing dramatically, with about 26 cases now reported per day over a seven-day average. Nationwide, new case rates in the U.S. are also continuing to drop with less than 70,000 per day, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s updated COVID-19 community transmission criteria, Mathews and Gloucester counties are designated at a low level of community transmission and Middlesex is designated as being at a medium level. Levels are determined by looking at hospital bed...