Last Updated: May 26, 2023
Key Takeaways
- Case rates of COVID-19 and influenza are at a seasonal low. COVID-19 hospitalization rates are the lowest recorded since summer of 2021. Other surveillance metrics such as wastewater sampling, and COVID-like illness visits to emergency departments and urgent care facilities, corroborate these findings. Models suggest that Virginia will see a mild summer of low COVID-19 activity.
- Tick-borne diseases continue to cause significant morbidity in the Commonwealth. As “tick season” begins, Virginians are urged to practice good tick-bite prevention.
- Avian influenza is still causing outbreaks among livestock. It has not yet caused any significant human morbidity. The USDA is considering a vaccination program that would include turkeys in Virginia.
- NOAA predicts a warmer and wetter summer for parts of Virginia. It also expects a “near normal” hurricane season.
VDH OEP Weekly Situation Update.
UVA Biocomplexity Institute Slides.
This page updates weekly on Friday by 5:00 PM.
The VDH OEP Weekly Situation Update is produced by the VDH Office of Emergency Preparedness. This update covers ongoing or potential public health issues, including COVID-19. This product is intended to enhance situational awareness among the public health, healthcare, and emergency management communities. Some items covered may pose little or no threat to the public at large. For instance, an Ebola outbreak occurring outside of the United States would pose virtually no risk to Virginians, but emergency preparedness resources may be activated to coordinate efforts to monitor, quarantine, and potentially treat travelers arriving from affected countries. The update includes links to publicly available data and news sources. These items are included for situational awareness only and do not represent an endorsement of the source or information therein.