New virus case rates continue to decline

The Virginia Department of Health reported Monday morning that Wise County’s total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the months since the pandemic began increased by four since last Thursday, from 3,248 to 3,252.

The county’s total number of deaths associated with COVID-19 remained at 100.
Meanwhile, the health department’s cumulative positive case count for Norton remained at 290.

The number of total deaths in the city remained at seven.

Statewide, the total number of confirmed cases across several months rose from 526,049 Thursday to 526,688 Monday, an increase of 638. The number of “probable” cases rose from 149,992 Thursday to 150,143 Monday, an increase of 151.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Virginia increased by 25 to 9,489. The number of probable COVID-19 deaths increased by four to 1,756.

To look at the health department’s data, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov and go to the COVID-19 Data and Resources section.

REMINDERS

Gov. Ralph Northam announced May 14 that Virginia’s indoor face mask requirement would be lifted, citing new guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC guidelines specify that fully-vaccinated people do not need to wear masks in most indoor settings. However, those who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated are strongly encouraged to wear masks in all settings.