County sees 36 cases; hospital rates still high

Dickenson County recorded 36 new COVID-19 cases in a week.

As of March 1, the Virginia Department of Health reported a total of 3,261 confirmed cases in Dickenson County since the pandemic began in early 2020. As of Tuesday, the number had increased to 3,297.

Seventy-three county residents were hospitalized with COVID as of Tuesday.
The county’s number of COVID-19-related deaths remained at 45.

The omicron variant of the virus continues to spread, but the rate of increasing cases is slowing down.

Nearby, Russell County Tuesday recorded a total of 6,780 positive cases since the pandemic began, an increase of 45 cases in a week. Buchanan County’s total case count was 4,728, an increase of 15 cases in a week. Wise County reported a total of 10,121 cases, an increase of 71 cases in a week.
To look at the health department’s data, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov and go to the COVID-19 Data section.

VACCINATION

As of Tuesday, 55 percent of Dickenson County residents had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the health department.

More than 49 percent of county residents had received a second dose.

Nearly 21 percent of residents had received a booster dose.

Former 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 were 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.