COVID-19 Blog

Key Takeaways

• COVID-19 indicators continue to suggest a plateau or decline in activity. The percent of weekly Virginia emergency visits with diagnosed COVID- 19 declined by 6.8%, while hospital admissions increased by 1.4%. CDC forecasts suggest a plateau or moderate decline in the coming weeks.
• RSV continues to increase in the Southeast and South US, suggesting a potential early start to the season.
• The CDC has launched the Outbreak Analytics and Disease Modeling Network. The goal of the project is to create new epidemic modeling tools and make them available to local public health officials.
• Flu season has started in Japan which has seen a surge of cases among school-age children. Flu B continues to linger in Australia despite the end of the usual flu season there.
• Idaho has reported an outbreak of Measles among the unvaccinated.
• Some Kaiser Permanente employees in the DC area may strike Oct 4 to Oct 6, pending outcome of national labor negotiations.

VDH OEP Weekly Situation Update.

VDH Surveillance Data Update.

This page updates weekly on Friday by 5:00 PM.

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The VDH OEP Weekly Situation Update is produced by the VDH Office of Emergency Preparedness. This update covers ongoing or potential public health and emergency preparedness 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. These items are included for situational awareness only and do not represent an endorsement of the source or information therein.

Key Takeaways

• The Governor’s office has declared a state of emergency due to the potential for severe flooding and tropical storm impacts across the Commonwealth from Tropical Storm Ophelia.
• Ophelia is expected to impact much of the state over the weekend, including the potential for life-threatening storm surge in coastal areas. Flood risk is expected to peak with high-tides on Saturday morning and afternoon, with major flooding expected in some areas. Dangerous maritime conditions are also expected.
• Wind gusts are expected to approach 50 mph on land, including 30 mph or higher winds as far west as Danville, Lynchburg and Loudoun. Flash flooding may occur as far west as Roanoke.
• Most COVID-19 indicators have plateaued and likely begun a slow decline. It is possible that another wave will arrive in late fall or early winter, but the current outlook seems favorable.

VDH OEP Weekly Situation Update.

VDH Surveillance Data Update.

This page updates weekly on Friday by 5:00 PM.

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The VDH OEP Weekly Situation Update is produced by the VDH Office of Emergency Preparedness. This update covers ongoing or potential public health and emergency preparedness 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. These items are included for situational awareness only and do not represent an endorsement of the source or information therein.

Key Takeaways

• COVID-19 growth may be slowing and entering a plateau phase. COVID-like illness metrics show stagnation. Only two wastewater sites are showing growth this week. The statewide reproductive number suggests that case rates are likely stable.
• Growth of COVID-19 hospitalization rates has slowed. Models forecast a few more weeks of mild growth before a plateau. This is consistent with trends seen in countries like Ireland and England.
• Influenza and RSV rates remain low in Virginia. CDC data suggests that this year’s flu vaccine will be effective at reducing flu severity.
• Data suggests that the strain of H5N1 avian influenza affecting Peru is more capable of infecting mammals than most. Yet, no human-to-human transmission has been observed.
• The Netherlands reports a human case of H1N1 swine flu. Again, no human-to-human transmission has been observed.
• The NWS expects Hurricane Lee to continue north away from Virginia. It may cause minor coastal flooding, and dangerous offshore conditions. Coastal wind gusts are also a possibility.

VDH OEP Weekly Situation Update.

UVA Biocomplexity Institute Slides.

VDH Surveillance Data Update.

This page updates weekly on Friday by 5:00 PM.

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The VDH OEP Weekly Situation Update is produced by the VDH Office of Emergency Preparedness. This update covers ongoing or potential public health and emergency preparedness 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. These items are included for situational awareness only and do not represent an endorsement of the source or information therein.

Key Takeaways

• Since the start of August, Virginia has reported sustained slow growth of COVID-19 hospital admissions. Despite this trend, admissions rates remain low compared to those of January’s surge. Forecasts suggest that this trend will continue with minor growth expected in September.
• Other COVID-19 indicators corroborate the hospitalization data trends. Wastewater surveillance and COVID-like illness metrics also suggest sustained slow growth.
• COVID-19 variant proportions remain varied. EG.5 continues to grow as XBB.1.5 declines, but over a dozen other variants are active in the U.S.
• The new 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines could become available as early as next week. Pfizer and Moderna claim that their new vaccines will protect against the EG.5 and BA.2.86 variants. If approved, the vaccines will be available through routine healthcare provider channels.
• Influenza and RSV remain at low levels in Virginia. But there is some evidence of RSV growth among children in Florida and Georgia.
• The NHC is tracking Hurricane Lee as it forms in the Atlantic. Models cannot yet predict if it will make landfall.
• A major heatwave hit Virginia this week resulting in 180 heat-related hospitalizations. The heatwave is expected to break over the weekend.

VDH OEP Weekly Situation Update.

VDH Surveillance Data Update.

This page updates weekly on Friday by 5:00 PM.

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The VDH OEP Weekly Situation Update is produced by the VDH Office of Emergency Preparedness. This update covers ongoing or potential public health and emergency preparedness 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. These items are included for situational awareness only and do not represent an endorsement of the source or information therein.

Key Takeaways

• COVID-19 indicators continue to increase. While still low, COVID-19 hospital admissions increased 51% in Virginia for the week ending on August 26.
• Due to the increase in COVID-19 indicators and interest, this update will include a section focusing on respiratory illness. This can be found on page two of this report.
• Virginia is feeling the effects of post-tropical cyclone Idalia today. These include high winds and flooding of coastal areas. The storm is also causing hazardous conditions on open water. Two other named Atlantic storms are not expected to approach the U.S. at this time.
• VDH has announced a statewide outbreak of meningococcal disease. Twenty-seven cases have been identified in Eastern, Central, and Southwest Virginia since June 2022.
• San Francisco issued an advisory following an uptick in mpox cases.
• There has been an increase in hospitalizations of children who consumed hemp-derived products.

VDH OEP Weekly Situation Update.

VDH Surveillance Data Update.

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 and emergency preparedness 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. These items are included for situational awareness only and do not represent an endorsement of the source or information therein.