County sees 135 cases, one death in a week

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wise County increased by 135 between Aug. 25 and Wednesday.

The Virginia Department of Health reported Wednesday morning that the county’s total confirmed cases in the months since the pandemic began had risen to 3,871 — up from 3,736 one week earlier.

The number of Wise County COVID-19 deaths increased by one, from 108 to 109.

Statewide, the total number of confirmed cases across several months rose from 571,686 Aug. 25 to 586,218 Wednesday, an increase of 14,532. The number of “probable” cases in Virginia rose from 175,954 Aug. 25 to 183,624 Wednesday, an increase of 7,670.
During the same period, the number of confirmed deaths increased by 123 to 10,018.

The number of probable COVID-19 deaths increased by 23 to 1,843.

To look at the health department’s data, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov and go to the COVID-19 Data and Resources section.

VACCINATION

About 46 percent of Wise County residents have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the health department.

However, only about 37 percent of residents are fully vaccinated.

Gov. Ralph Northam announced Aug. 12 that 73 percent of Virginians 18 and older had received at least one dose.

Meanwhile, the delta variant of the virus continues to fuel a rapidly-growing resurgence in cases across Virginia and the nation. The overwhelming majority of new cases are affecting people who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated.

Guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention specifies that those who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks, practice physical distancing and avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.