By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Jan. 17 — While COVID-19 data across the state and the region appears to be plateauing, new cases of the virus and the positivity rate continue rise in Page County.
Virginia saw a slight increase in cases over the past week, but mild in comparison to the rapid surge of the Omicron variant over the previous three weeks. The Lord Fairfax District actually reported fewer new cases than the previous week, but positivity rates still range from 32 to 42 percent across the region. However, Page County set new records over the last seven days in both new cases and positivity.
The Virginia Department of Health reported a record-high 304 new cases of COVID-19 surfacing in Page County since Jan. 10 (an average of 43.4 per day). That total included 105 new cases just over the weekend. A total of 226 cases were reported the previous week. Zip code data provided by VDH shows the following breakdown for new coronavirus cases reported in the county over the past seven days:
- 135 cases — Luray area (22835)
- 92 cases — Stanley area (22851)
- 61 cases — Shenandoah area (22849)
- 8 cases — Rileyville area (22650)
Page County’s positivity rate has also reached a new record-high as well at 42.2 percent, breaking last Monday’s record-high of 37.8 percent. Prior to this winter’s surge, Page’s positivity rate had not exceeded 23 percent during the pandemic. The county reported only three hospitalizations due to the virus this past week and no deaths.
The Lord Fairfax Health District reported 3,147 new cases of COVID-19 over the last seven days, down from 3,554 the previous week. Page and Shenandoah counties were the only localities in the health district to show an increase in new cases and positivity rates over the past week. Below is a breakdown of new cases reported since Jan. 10 and each localities’ positivity rate within the health district (as of Monday, Jan.17):
• 1,205 — Frederick County — 32.1%
• 616 — Shenandoah County — 42.2%
• 464 — Warren County — 37.2%
• 411 — City of Winchester — 35.7%
• 304 — Page County — 42.2%
• 147 — Clarke County — 34.8%
The health district reported 23 hospitalizations related to COVID over the past seven days (same as previous week) and six related deaths (three last week). Frederick County reported three COVID-related deaths, while Warren County had two and the City of Winchester reported one.
Statewide hospitalizations related to COVID-19 have risen to 3,812 — up slightly from 3,681 the previous week. Currently, 656 patients are in intensive care being treated for COVID (up 16 percent from last week), with 373 on ventilators (up 19 percent).
Virginia’s seven-day positivity rate fell (week-to-week) for the first time since late November and currently sits at 33.6 percent. Last Monday, the rate stood at 35.6 percent. Four weeks ago the commonwealth’s positivity rate stood at 9.3 percent. During last winter’s surge, Virginia’s positivity peaked at 16.8 percent on Jan. 10. During the Delta surge in September, the state reached only 10.9 percent positivity.
Virginia reported 143 deaths related to COVID-19 over the past seven days, up from 56 the previous week. The commonwealth has reported a total of 15,814 deaths from COVID-19 since March 14, 2020.
A total of 388 COVID-19 vaccinations were administered in Page County over the past week — up from 345 the previous week. As of Monday’s report by VDH, a cumulative total of 26,988 vaccinations have been given locally, with 12,274 people in the county receiving at least one dose and 11,189 fully vaccinated (or 46.8 percent of the population). A total of 4,524 in the county have received a third shot or booster for the COVID-19 vaccine (23.4 percent of the adult population in the county). Nearly 60 percent of the COVID-19 vaccinations administered in Page County over the past week (231) were booster shots.
Statewide, Virginia has administered about 14.5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with about 6.7 million receiving at least one dose and 5.8 million individuals, or 78.6 percent of the adult population, being fully vaccinated. About 2.3 million Virginians have received a third “booster” dose of the vaccine.
Unvaccinated individuals and those who are not fully vaccinated should continue wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces in accordance with federal CDC guidance.
Vaccines are available by pre-registration and appointment. To pre-register, or to update your pre-registration record, visit www.vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 1-877-VAX-IN-VA (1-877-829-4682). English- and Spanish-speaking operators are available. Translation services also are available, in more than 100 languages. For TTY, dial 7-1-1.
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Had a negative antibody test result on 1 Dec. Felt sick a week ago. High fever, orbital eye pain, extreme weakness, but no shortness of breath.
Scheduled a Rapid Antigen(BinaxNOW) which was done yesterday the 17th Jan. Had to wait over a week just to grt an appointment. Anyway, it was positive for Covid-19.
I am unvaccinated, but all the symptoms had resolved by the 12th.
I am 67 years old. Never smoked. Always exercise. Now I have natural immunity and the government hates me.