Three Rivers Health District
(Editor’s note: As of Tuesday, the Virginia Department of Public Health reported 1,762 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Middlesex County. There were 41 Middlesex patient COVID-19-related hospitalizations and 42 deaths involving Middlesex residents. The Virginia Department of Public Health cautions that because of limited testing, the actual number of cases in Middlesex County is likely much higher than reported.)
There is still a lot of COVID-19 circulating in our communities and the risk of exposure remains high — but case counts are decreasing. Vaccination remains our most powerful tool to limit infection and severe disease. Please get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible. If you are vaccinated, and eligible for a booster dose, please get the booster dose as soon as possible. More details on the recommended COVID-19 vaccination and booster schedules for all ages may be found at http://vaccinate.virginia.gov/.
Please visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 1-877-VAX-IN-VA to find COVID-19 vaccination opportunities near you. Appointment opportunities in Three Rivers Health District vaccination clinics are available at the Three Rivers Health District website at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/three-rivers/.
Flu vaccine remains widely available. Please get your flu shot, it’s not too late to protect yourself and your loved ones against flu.
Mandates are ending
In Virginia and in many other states, we are moving to a phase in the pandemic when mandates for collective protection are ending. Mandates and lockdowns can reduce exposure to and enhance protection from infectious agents, but as we have clearly seen over the past two years they can also have harmful side effects. We have seen negative psychosocial, educational and developmental, economic, and many other consequences.
(Richard Williams is the director of Three Rivers Health District of the Virginia Department of Health. The district includes Middlesex County. Williams’ email address is richard.williams@vdh.virginia.gov.)
