May 20, 2022
Media Contact: Cat Long, RHHDpr@vdh.virginia.gov, 804-363-0933
Richmond City Enters Medium CDC COVID-19 Community Level
RICHMOND, VA- Yesterday, the CDC reported Richmond City as having moved to the medium COVID-19 community level. This comes one week after Henrico County moved into the medium level.
The CDC’s COVID-19 community level is a tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.
Based on CDC guidance for individuals who live in an area with medium COVID-19 community level, RHHD recommends everyone who lives, works, or spends time in Richmond or Henrico to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, improve ventilation in indoor spaces, and follow CDC recommendations for isolation or quarantine if sick or exposed. Individuals who are immunocompromised, at high risk for severe illness, or who spend time with high risk individuals should consider wearing a mask around others.
RHHD also continues to recommend everyone keep several at-home tests in their home in case it’s needed. Individuals can request free tests at covidtests.gov, purchase a test at a pharmacy and submit a claim to their insurance, or pick up a free COVID-19 home test at some Richmond Public Library locations (Broad Rock, East End, Ginter Park, Main Library, and North Ave). RHHD is also increasing the availability of free COVID-19 PCR test events to meet a potential increased demand; visit rchd.com for more information on testing.
“After monitoring the case counts in Richmond City over the past week, we’ve been anticipating that we were likely to move to the medium level,” explains Joanna Cirillo, Public Health Nurse Supervisor at RHHD. “We’ve increased our testing capacity, have distributed over 30k at home tests this year, and have encouraged folks to stay ready to ride the waves of the pandemic.”
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