8 new COVID deaths reported in Henrico

Health officials Wednesday attributed eight deaths in Henrico County to COVID-19 – two people in their 70s, one each in their 50s and 60s and the other four 80 or older. It was unclear initially whether the deaths occurred recently or several weeks or months ago; the Citizen is awaiting word from the Henrico Health District.

During the past two days, a total of 17 new hospitalizations related to the virus also have been reported in the county, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The VDH reported 82 new cases of the virus in Henrico Wednesday after having reported 58 the previous day in the county.

Henrico now has witnessed 8,549 confirmed cases of the virus. Its 7-day positivity percentage rose from 5.8% Nov. 27 to 6.4% Nov. 28 – the highest it’s been since Sept. 15.

During the past two weeks, an average of 332 new cases per 100,000 people have been reported in the county, placing Henrico in the “highest risk” category in one of the VDH’s three “core indicator” metrics. But the average number of new daily cases during the most recent 7 days in the county as dropped from 90 Nov. 26 to 72 Dec. 2.

The Richmond region is still in mostly good shape from a hospitalization standpoint; nearly 88% of hospital inpatient beds in the area are occupied (placing the region in the “moderate risk” category), but only 6% of those beds are occupied by COVID patients (“lower risk” category).

The Henrico and Richmond Health Department will host two free COVID testing events this week – one Dec. 3 at The Diamond, 3001 North Arthur Ashe Boulevard, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the other Dec. 4 at the Eastern Henrico Health Department, 1400 North Laburnum Avenue, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Both will be drive-through events. Call 205-3501 to register between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

– Will Gonzalez contributed to this article