Central Virginia poised for another COVID surge

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Central Virginia is ready to expertise one other surge in COVID infections, with the CDC updating their COVID-19 Neighborhood Ranges in a number of localities to the medium degree.

The neighborhood degree measures “case charges, hospitalization charges, and hospital capability,” and replaces an earlier CDC measure that was primarily based on transmission alone.

The Richmond and Henrico Well being District (RHHD) issued a press release on Friday saying that rising case counts have been “noticed throughout your entire area,” together with in localities that haven’t but had their neighborhood ranges up to date.

“We perceive that shifting right into a medium degree could go away people feeling pissed off or drained,” mentioned Dr. Melissa Viray, Performing Director of RHHD. “Nonetheless, that is what we’ve been getting ready for.”

The district mentioned they had been rising the supply of free PCR assessments at neighborhood clinics in anticipation of an increase in circumstances. Nonetheless, the checklist of neighborhood testing websites the district linked to of their assertion has not been up to date since April 25, and the final scheduled testing occasion occurred on Could 5.

Residents may decide up free at-home assessments at a number of branches of the Richmond Public Library, listed right here. The free assessments are additionally obtainable at RHHD useful resource facilities throughout town, the addresses of that are listed on the identical web page.

Main Indicators

Case counts throughout the state have risen once more over the previous few weeks, following a surge in circumstances earlier this 12 months that peaked in mid-January.

Nonetheless, one other early warning could have come from an surprising place: the Richmond sewers.

Dr. Rekha Singh manages the CDC’s wastewater surveillance program in Virginia, and he or she instructed 8News that viral masses within the sewer system – the measure of useless COVID-19 viruses launched by defecation – could be a “main indicator” of a rise in infections in an space.

This system presently operates at one web site in Central Virginia, which observes viral masses within the Richmond sewer system. A rise in viral masses in sewage is usually adopted inside every week or two by a rise in scientific circumstances, making it a probably great tool in predicting outbreaks.

Dr. Singh mentioned they’ve seen a rise in viral masses since mid-April inside the Richmond commentary level, pointing to a probable improve in circumstances sooner or later.

This system can be hoping to develop to different localities within the close to future, which can assist officers cross-reference ranges between totally different websites.

What Residents Can Do

The well being district really helpful residents of the affected counties “keep updated with COVID-19 vaccines, enhance air flow in indoor areas, and comply with CDC suggestions for isolation or quarantine if sick or uncovered.”

The district added that though Richmond Metropolis was not but at a medium neighborhood degree, rising case counts throughout the area meant it was seemingly they might quickly be moved up as effectively.

“If we keep updated on COVID vaccinations and implement extra prevention measures throughout occasions of elevated transmission, we will defend our most susceptible,” Dr. Viray mentioned.