County marks five more deaths, 346 new cases

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wise County increased by 346 between Jan. 5 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 7,093 — up from 6,747 one week earlier.
The number of Wise County COVID-19 deaths increased by five, from 147 to 152.

As of yesterday, 271 Wise Countians were hospitalized with COVID.
Locally and across Virginia, the omicron variant is on the rampage with new infections, but the statewide rate of new fatalities appears to be slowing down.

Statewide, the total number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began rose from 852,876 Jan. 5 to 941,000 Wednesday, an increase of 88,124. The number of “probable” cases in Virginia rose from 334,011 Jan. 5 to 374,256 Wednesday, an increase of 40,245.
During the same period, the number of confirmed deaths increased by 110 to 13,163. The number of probable COVID-19 deaths increased by nine to 2,587.

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

VACCINATION

Nearly 54 percent of Wise County residents have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the health department.

About 46 percent of residents are fully vaccinated.

More than 16 percent have received a booster or third dose.

Gov. Ralph Northam announced Nov. 12 that more than 83 percent of Virginia adults had received at least one dose, while 75 percent of adults had received a second dose.

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.