County records 28 new virus cases in a week

The number of new COVID-19 cases in far Southwest Virginia continues to rise rapidly as the delta variant of the virus spreads.

Health officials say the overwhelming majority of new cases are striking people who have not gotten vaccinated.

As of Aug. 17, the Virginia Department of Health reported a total of 1,052 confirmed cases in Dickenson County since the pandemic began last year. As of Tuesday, the number had increased by 28 to 1,080.

The county’s number of COVID-19-related deaths remained at 19.

Nearby, Russell County has recorded a total of 2,519 positive cases since the pandemic began, an increase of 74 cases in one week. Buchanan County’s total case count was 1,739, an increase of 61 cases in one week. Wise County has reported a total of 3,709 cases, an increase of 142 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, roughly 45 percent of Dickenson County residents had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the health department.

However, less than 39 percent of county residents were fully vaccinated.

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