The COVID-19 vaccination program continued to prove its worth during the past week, with case rates remaining low in Virginia, averaging fewer than 400 cases per day statewide and fewer than 10 cases per day in the Three Rivers Health District.

District Director Dr. Richard Williams reiterated in his weekly report that a spike in cases last week, including a jump of 45 cases in Gloucester, was largely due to late reporting of 74 cases by a multi-state practitioner. The cases dated from early April, he said.

The local picture looks much different this week, with Gloucester recording only five new cases since last week, the lowest number of new weekly cases for the county since last April. The total number of Gloucester cases thus far is 2,253.

The number of cases actually decreased in Mathews and Middlesex during the past week, with Mathews recording 599 cases, two fewer than last week, and Middlesex recording 573 cases, or three fewer than before. A decrease generally occurs ...