Health Director's Weekly COVID Briefing for the Week of July 26, 2021

• Pandemic Status
  • • • Pandemic Status: The United States is in a pandemic surge among unvaccinated people.  Three Rivers cases are rising.
        • The Delta COVID 19 variant has become dominant in the United States; the current case rate in the US is over 59,000/day 7 day rolling average. Almost every state is reporting increasing case counts.
        • Virginia is increasing in new case rates; currently we are over 670/day 7 day average.
        • Three Rivers is also increasing; we had 79 new cases in Three Rivers last week.
        • Across Virginia, about 59.7% of the total population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 71.6% of the population over 18 has received at least one dose. In Three Rivers, about 60.5% of our population over age 18 has received at least one dose.  Over 80% of our Three Rivers residents aged 65+ have received at least one dose.

        Everyone age 12 and older is now eligible for vaccination in Virginia.  The Pfizer vaccine was recently authorized for use in adolescents age 12-15.  Twelve to seventeen year olds must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Sites operated by the Virginia Department of Health require the parent or guardian to verbally confirm a minor’s date of birth; however, other providers may require additional proof of age.  It is recommended that you check with the facility that is offering the vaccination about requirements for proof of age.  Please visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 1-877-VAX-IN-VA to find vaccination opportunities.

        • Virginia is placing a great deal of emphasis on equitable distribution of the vaccine, and is working to help reach all communities, especially those with vulnerable populations, to promote vaccine acceptance.
        • Vaccine hesitancy and refusal is a challenge; we will continue to offer COVID 19 vaccine to achieve the highest vaccination rate possible.
        • If you have doubts or questions about COVID 19 vaccination, consult with your health care provider to consider the facts they tell you and to make a decision whether or not you will take the vaccine. To help you form an opinion, please consult credible authorities; the CDC and the World Health Organization are great sources of information.  Professional societies like the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians are also good.  The information available through any of these organizations is based on scientific evidence and best scientific judgement.  Other sources, such as universities and major health care organizations (Mayo Clinic for example), are also trustworthy.  Here are links to informative information about vaccine myths and facts:
          • American Academy of Family Physicians: https://www.aafp.org/dam/AAFP/documents/patient_care/public_health/COVID19-Vaccine-Myths.pdf
          • CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html
          • American Association of Medical Colleges: https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/transcript-vaccinevoices-covid-19-vaccine-myths-debunked

         

        Current COVID 19 precautionary recommendations

         

        • The US Health and Human Services (HHS) Declaration of Emergency remains in effect.
        • The Virginia State Health Commissioner’s Public Health Emergency Order effective July 1, 2021, requiring individuals aged 5 and older to wear masks in public and private K-12 schools, expired on July 25, 2021.
        • Individuals who are not yet fully vaccinated should continue wearing a mask, practice physical distancing, and avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces in accordance with the CDC’s Guidance for Unvaccinated People, which can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html.  This is especially important with the increasing prevalence of the Delta COVID 19 variant.
        • Individuals who are fully vaccinated can continue to participate in most activities without masking or distancing. Individuals who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken the immune system may not be fully protected, even if fully vaccinated, and should talk to their healthcare provider about additional precautions they may need to take.
        • Individuals in some settings, including healthcare settings, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters, should still mask, even if vaccinated. VDH maintains an updated list of mask requirements and mask recommendations here: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/cloth-face-covers/.
        • Virginia’s law against covering the face was suspended or “waived” during the Governor’s Declaration of Emergency. The law was intended to prohibit people from wearing a mask in order to hide their identity. This law should not discourage anyone from wearing a mask for the purpose of protecting themselves and others from illness. There is no legal barrier to wearing masks to protect oneself and others from the virus, nor should anyone be penalized for doing so. While the law prohibits wearing a mask when the purpose for wearing the mask is to conceal one’s identity, it does not prohibit wearing masks when the purpose for doing so is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 illness or for protection from exposure to infectious diseases.

        Vaccine and virus update

        • All three vaccine types in use in the United States (Moderna, Pfizer, and Janssen) are available across the Commonwealth. All of them are very effective in preventing serious and critical COVID 19 disease, and almost eliminate the risk of hospitalization and death.  All available vaccines are effective in reducing viral transmission potential in the unlikely event of infection post vaccination as well.
        • The COVID 19 virus continues to genetically drift.
          • Health officials and vaccine manufacturers are in discussion concerning the need for a booster shot campaign. Booster vaccines are being developed, the immunity data are still evolving.  At this point there is not enough evidence for the CDC and FDA to recommend booster vaccinations, although more authorities are considering a booster shot for persons aged 65 (and older) as well as immunocompromised individuals.
          • Many COVID 19 variants are in the United States now. The variant from India (B.1.617.2, also known as the Delta variant) is much more transmissible than other variants and is now dominant in the United States, responsible for more than 80% of COVID 19 cases in some areas.
          • The Delta variant has been detected in all regions in Virginia. It is 50-60% more transmissible than the UK variant, and is specifically causing more hospitalizations and untoward health outcomes among younger people.  Our vaccines, including the Janssen vaccine, appear effective against the Delta variant at this point.  We are currently in a COVID 19 pandemic surge among unvaccinated people.  Over 98% of persons hospitalized currently are unvaccinated.
          • The VDH has established a COVID 19 Variants of Concern Dashboard. The dashboard can be accessed here:  https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-data-insights/variants-of-concern/
          • We are in a race to vaccinate people as fast as we can to keep case levels as low as possible and limit variant evolution. The higher the case levels in the population, the more opportunity exists for the virus to continue to evolve.

        COVID 19 Vaccine Safety

        • The COVID 19 vaccines are among the best and safest vaccines ever developed. As with all vaccines and medications, there are potential adverse effects.  All these adverse events following vaccination are extremely rare, and the risk of COVID 19 disease far exceeds the risk of any of the adverse events that have been reported.  Health authorities in the Unites States agree that:

         “The vaccines are safe and effective, and they prevent COVID-19 illness. They will help protect you and your family and keep your community safe. We strongly encourage everyone age 12 and older who are eligible to receive the vaccine under Emergency Use Authorization to get vaccinated, as the benefits of vaccination far outweigh any harm. Especially with the troubling Delta variant increasingly circulating, and more readily impacting younger people, the risks of being unvaccinated are far greater than any rare side effects from the vaccines. If you get COVID-19, you could get severely ill and be hospitalized or even die. Even if your infection is mild, you or your child could face long-term symptoms following COVID-19 infection such as neurological problems or diminished lung function.”

        How to volunteer with the Three Rivers Health District

        • The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), our volunteers, are absolutely critical to our efforts at all times. We are extremely grateful for our volunteers, we could not carry on this pandemic mitigation effort without them.
        • If you are interested in becoming an MRC volunteer, or have family or friends that are interested, please visit vamrc.org to learn more.
        • If you have questions about the process, please reach out to the Three Rivers Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator at 804-758-2381. We welcome your help and participation in the fight against COVID 19, and in all other health department missions.

        Testing, pandemic containment efforts

        • COVID 19 testing will remain very important in the coming months. We have resumed community testing in conjunction with our continued vaccination outreach.
        • Our containment team is investigating all new cases with contact tracing of all high risk exposures. These activities will be very important to keep outbreaks from occurring and to keep new cases at a minimum, especially with increasing prevalence of the Delta variant.

        K-12 Update     

        • The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) are partnering to launch a new COVID-19 testing program for the 2021 - 2022 school year, Virginia School Screening Testing for Assurance (ViSSTA). ViSSTA will provide testing vendors, supplies, and staffing to support an end-to-end COVID-19 testing experience with the goal of maximizing resources available to schools to navigate full in-person instruction in the fall and minimizing added responsibilities to existing school staff. More details are available at the VDH K-12 testing website here:  https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/k-12-testing/
        • The CDC published revised guidance for COVID 19 prevention in Child Care and K-12 settings, which can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html
        • The VDH also published revised guidance last week:
          • There is greater emphasis on promoting vaccination among teachers, staff, families, and eligible students as a critical prevention strategy.
          • In indoor K-12 settings, a student who is within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student is not considered a close contact as long as both students are wearing masks and the school has other prevention strategies in place.
            • This exception does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in indoor K-12 settings.
            • Having direct exposure to respiratory secretions of someone with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed or sneezed on) is also considered close contact in any setting.
            • Persons who are fully vaccinated and those who have tested positive in the last 90 days do not need to be quarantined if exposed to a case.
          • Elementary schools (including PreK classrooms) should implement a requirement that students, teachers, and staff wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, until vaccination is available for children under 12 years old and there has been sufficient time to allow for children younger than 12 years old to be fully vaccinated.
          • At a minimum, middle and high schools should implement a requirement that students, teachers, and staff who are not fully vaccinated wear masks indoors. If a school adopts such a requirement, school divisions should work with their local counsel to determine how such a requirement will be implemented.

        Useful links

        • The FDA fact sheets for recipients and caregivers for the Pfizer vaccine can be found here: https://www.fda.gov/media/144414/download
        • The FDA fact sheet for recipients and caregivers for the Moderna vaccine can be found here: https://www.fda.gov/media/144638/download
        • The FDA fact sheet for recipients and caregivers for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine can be found here: https://www.fda.gov/media/146305/download
        • The Virginia Department of Health is maintaining COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboards, which are available here: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines-received/ and here: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-summary/
        • The VDH COVID 19 outbreak dashboard can be found here: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-data-insights/
        • Links to useful information about COVID 19 myths and facts:
          1. American Academy of Family Physicians: https://www.aafp.org/dam/AAFP/documents/patient_care/public_health/COVID19-Vaccine-Myths.pdf
          2. CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

        American Association of Medical Colleges:  https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/transcript-vaccinevoices-covid-19-vaccine-myths-debunked

        

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•  If you have an appointment at the Health Department:

Please stay in your vehicle and call us at 804.758.2381

We will arrange to meet you via appointment or to provide service by telephone or email.

If you have a fever or cough, please return home and visit us when you are well.

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THREE RIVERS HEALTH DISTRICT is a 10 county Virginia Department of Health district for Virginia’s beautiful Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula regions. This 2,000 square mile area is located between the waters of the Potomac, Rappahannock, and York Rivers and borders the Chesapeake Bay on the east. Our public health professionals serve a population of approximately 140,000, including 2 Native American reservations, 9 incorporated towns, and a large number of visitors.

Whether you are a resident here, just visiting the area, or thinking of relocating your family or business, I hope that you will take time to explore our website and Annual Report to see the many ways our health professionals keep our communities and shorelines healthy and safe. Building healthy communities is our mission.