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Due to the amount of vaccinations across our region, we will no longer be updating the COVID-19 hotline.

As of Friday, December 31, Virginia has had 1,118,518 total cases of COVID-19, including confirmed lab tests and clinical diagnoses, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

The Virginia Department of Health reports a 21.1% 7-day positivity rate for total testing encounters, and a 21.5% 7-day positivity rate for PCR tests.

22 additional deaths were reported this Wednesday, leaving the death toll at 15,587.

For a comprehensive summary of COVID-19 cases and testing in Virginia, you can visit the Virginia Department of Health’s website and view their COVID-19 dashboard.

On Sunday, April 18, vaccine eligibility expanded to all individuals in the Commonwealth age 16 and above.

On Thursday, April 22, Governor Northam announced an ease in some of the COVID-19 restrictions for social gatherings that began on Saturday, May 15:

• Social gatherings: The maximum number of individuals permitted in a social gathering will increase to 100 people for indoor settings and 250 people for outdoor settings. Social gatherings are currently limited to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
• Entertainment venues: Indoor entertainment and public amusement venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity or 1,000 people, up from 30 percent capacity or 500 people. Outdoor venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity — up from 30 percent — with no specific cap on the number of attendees.
• Recreational sporting events: The number of spectators allowed at indoor recreational sporting events will increase from 100 to 250 spectators or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less. Outdoor recreational sporting events will increase from 500 to 1,000 people or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less.
• Alcohol sales: Restaurants may return to selling alcohol after midnight, and dining room closures will no longer be required between midnight and 5:00 a.m.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Thursday, May 13, vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear a mask in most circumstances. On Friday, May 14, Governor Ralph Northam announced the mask mandate in Virginia would be lifted, and capacity and social distancing restrictions will end on May 28.

By December 31, the Virginia Department of Health had received reports of 807,247 confirmed cases and 311,271 probable cases of COVID-19 across the commonwealth.

Those positive test results are out of 15,922,911 total tests administered in Virginia, which included 11,196,374 PCR tests, 308,880 antibody tests and 4,417,657 antigen tests.

At this point, 41,862 Virginians have been hospitalized due to the disease caused by the virus, and at least 15,587 have died of causes related to the disease.

Here’s a breakdown of cases for our region as of 10:00 a.m. December 31.

Central Shenandoah Health District: 46,493 total cases

• Augusta County – 12,068 (+158 from Thursday)

• Bath County – 582 (+9 from Thursday)

• Buena Vista – 1,511 (+6 from Thursday)

• Harrisonburg – 9,119 (+58 from Thursday)

• Highland County – 234 (+1 from Thursday)

• Lexington – 1,739 (+21 from Thursday)

• Rockbridge County – 2,439 (+14 from Thursday)

• Rockingham County – 10,750 (+62 from Thursday)

• Staunton – 3,957 (+43 from Thursday)

• Waynesboro – 4,094 (+51 from Thursday)

Outbreaks: 177, with 57 in long-term care facilities, 12 in healthcare settings, 68 in congregate settings, 7 in correctional facilities, 20 in college/university settings, 5 in a child care setting and 8 in K-12 settings.

Total tests: 621,804

Lord Fairfax Health District: 39,216 total cases

• Clarke County – 1,827 (+33 from Thursday)

• Frederick County – 14,580 (+228 from Thursday)

• Page County – 4,149 (+37 from Thursday)

• Shenandoah County – 7,920 (+77 from Thursday)

• Warren County – 6,334 (+77 from Thursday)

• Winchester – 4,406 (+49 from Thursday)

Outbreaks: 180, with 79 in long-term care facilities, 15 in healthcare settings, 50 in congregate settings, 9 in correctional facilities, 7 in college/university settings, 15 in K-12 settings and 5 in child care settings.

Total tests: 433,900

The Virginia Department of Health has launched a data dashboard showcasing the number of COVID-19 vaccines that have been distributed and administered throughout the commonwealth.

According to the data dashboard, as of December 31, 6,598,615 people have been vaccinated with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 5,771,230 people are fully vaccinated.

16,272,935 total vaccine doses have been distributed throughout the state.

The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association’s online dashboard indicates that, as of December 31, at least 78,274 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from the hospital.

Unlike the VDH data that reports cumulative hospitalizations, their data on hospitalizations reflects people currently hospitalized for COVID-19 (whether with confirmed or pending cases), and that number is 2,182.

Here at WHSV, we cover Grant County, Hardy County and Pendleton County. The below information is the most recent data from each counties’ health department. You can find West Virginia’s COVID-19 dashboard here.

There are 328,162 total cases in West Virginia as of December 30. West Virginia’s numbers won’t be updated until January 3, 2022.

Grant County: 2,705 total COVID-19 cases (+6 from Wednesday)

Hardy County: 2,966 total COVID-19 cases (+29 from Wednesday)

Pendleton County: 1,322 total COVID-19 cases (+3 from Wednesday)

For the latest factual information on COVID-19, you’re encouraged to check both the Virginia Department of Health and the CDC.

Copyright 2021 WHSV. All rights reserved.

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