15 COVID outbreaks ongoing in Henrico as average number of daily cases exceeds 200

Henrico’s average number of new daily COVID-19 cases rose to another all-time high Thursday – 203 – but the number of new cases reported the same day dipped just slightly from the previous two days, to 196.

Henrico has witnessed at least 155 new cases each day since Dec. 29 – a total of 1,913 during that time, or 14% of its total during the pandemic (13,757).

Though it’s possible they will eventually, the new cases haven’t yet translated into higher hospitalization or death counts. On Thursday, one death in Henrico previously attributed to COVID was determined not to have been related. One new hospitalization related to the virus in the county also was reported Thursday.

During the most recent seven days, Henrico is averaging two new daily hospitalizations related to the the virus, roughly the same number it’s witnessed on average during a sliding seven-day period average since June.

The county’s average daily death count from the virus during the same seven-day period is 1; that number has fluctuated between 0 and 2 since July.

Roughly one-third of the 1,800 or so COVID-19 tests conducted on average in Henrico each day during the week ending Jan. 3 were rapid tests, whose positivity percentage was 15.8% during the timeframe. The other two-thirds were PCR tests, which had a positivity percentage of 14.8% during the same week period.

There are 15 current outbreaks in Henrico described as “in progress” by the VDH, which defines an outbreak of at least two cases deemed to be related; all but two are occurring at long-term care facilities.

The other two outbreaks are occurring at Deep Run High School and Grove Christian School. Henrico Schools officials reported four cases at Deep Run there between Dec. 16-19, three of which occurred in people who were inside the building between Dec. 14-16.

Grove Christian School has reported between 2-5 cases since Dec. 18.

The other significant outbreaks in progress in the county are occurring at:
• Elizabeth Adam Crump Health and Rehab, which has reported 90 cases and 15 deaths since Nov. 5;
• Westminster Canterbury, which has reported 56 cases and 1-5 deaths since Sept. 29;
• Our Lady of Hope Health Center, which has reported 43 cases and 1-5 deaths since Dec. 21;
• Covenant Columns Manor, Inc., which has reported 23 cases and 1-5 deaths since Dec. 3;
• Beth Sholom Senior Living, which has reported 16 cases and 1-5 deaths since Nov. 24;
• Canterbury Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, which has reported 13 cases and 1-5 deaths since Dec. 14.

The VDH suppresses case and death counts between 1-5 to preserve privacy.

A total of 5,316 Henrico citizens now have been vaccinated, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Presumably most or all of them have received only the first dose, though that information is unknown; statewide, 116,247 people have received a vaccine dose but just just 2,204 of them also have received the second and final dose. The doses must be given at least three weeks apart.