2 Henrico residents in their 50s die from COVID-19

Two more Henrico residents have died from COVID-19, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The victims, one man and one woman, were the fourth and fifth virus-related deaths reported in the county int he past four days. One victim was white, the other designated as “other race” by the VDH.

Henrico reported 152 new confirmed cases of COVID Friday, down slightly from the 161 it reported Thursday, and is now averaging 127 new daily cases during the past seven days – the highest rate it’s experienced since early February.

Data shows that two Eastern Henrico ZIP codes and five West End ZIPs each have combined for exactly 826 cases during the first 26 days of August. Those Eastern Henrico ZIPs, however (23222 and 23223) also contain portions of Richmond, to which an unknown number of those cases are attributed. The West End ZIPs of 23059, 23060, 23233, 23238 and 23294 each have witnessed total cases between 129 and 209 this month.

The 23223 ZIP code, which encompasses a portion of East Richmond and Eastern Henrico (generally along the Mechanicsville Turnpike and Nine Mile Road corridors) has witnessed 569 cases so far in August – more than 200 cases more than the next-highest total (in the Varina ZIP of 23231, which has witnessed 364 cases).

The 23228 ZIP, which generally includes the Lakeside region, is fourth among county ZIP codes, with 240 confirmed cases this month.

There are five COVID outbreaks in Henrico that are considered “in progress” by the VDH. They have occurred at:

• Sowing Seeds Academy child care center (beginning Aug. 2) – 15 cases;
• Glen Allen High School (Aug. 2) – 5 cases;
• Highland Springs High School (Aug. 2) – fewer than 5 cases;
• Henrico Health and Rehabilitation Center in Highland Springs (Aug. 9) – fewer than 5 cases;
• Lakewood Manor Baptist Retirement Community (Aug. 9) – fewer than 5 cases.

Chesterfield County reported three active outbreaks, the city of Richmond one and Hanover County none.

Three-hundred sixty-eight people received their first dose of COVID vaccine Thursday in Henrico, while 339 became fully vaccinated. Henrico now is less than 1% away from having 75% of its adult population vaccinated with at least one dose.

Overall, nearly 63% of the county’s total population has had at least one dose and 56.2% of Henricoans are fully vaccinated.