Six deaths, 37 new cases reported

Dickenson County recorded 37 new COVID-19 cases in one week.

As of Dec. 21, the Virginia Department of Health reported a total of 2,130 confirmed cases in Dickenson County since the pandemic began last year. As of Tuesday, the number had increased to 2,167.

Sixty-seven county residents were hospitalized with COVID as of yesterday.
The county’s number of COVID-19-related deaths increased by six, from 32 to 38.

Nearby, Russell County has recorded a total of 4,583 positive cases since the pandemic began, an increase of 104 cases in one week. Buchanan County’s total case count was 3,073, an increase of 68 cases in one week. Wise County has reported a total of 6,464 cases, an increase of 156 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, more than 53 percent of Dickenson County residents had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the health department.

About 47 percent of county residents had received a second dose.

Almost 16 percent of residents had received a booster 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 are 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.