New COVID cases up slightly in Henrico

New COVID-19 cases in Henrico have been slightly higher than normal during the past two days, in line with a statewide trend.

The county had witnessed only two days in the past 25 with more than 50 new cases (and none with more than 57) before 74 new cases were reported Nov. 16. That total dropped to 49 Thursday, according to Virginia Department of Health data.

Henrico now is averaging 41 new daily cases during the past seven days, a slight uptick from the recent average in the upper 30s.

The county remains in the “substantial” transmission risk category (the third-highest of four established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) for the second week in a row, after dropping from the “high” level, where it had been since mid-July. It’s one of more than two dozen localities in the state not currently in the “high” level; most of those that aren’t are in the central, northern and eastern portions of the state.

Fifteen days after it became available to them, nearly 15% of Henrico children between the ages of 5 and 11 have received their first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, according to the VDH data.

A total of 4,148 children in that age range (14.6% of the total 5-to-11 population in the county) have received those doses so far, ranking Henrico just below the statewide average of 15% for that group.

By comparison, about 15.5% of children 5 to 11 in Chesterfield have received their first doses, while 20.2% of those in Hanover and 12.2% of those in Richmond have.

About 1,000 Henrico and Richmond children in that age range have been vaccinated at events hosted by the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts, according to RHHD Nurse Manager Amy Popovich; about 700 of them were vaccinated at the Arthur Ashe Center on Ashe Boulevard in Richmond. The turnout has been encouraging so far, she said.

Possible side-effects of the shot in children are similar to those adults experience, such as fatigue, sore arm or mild fever. Popovich said she wasn’t aware of any serious side effects in children who have been vaccinated locally.

Vaccination efforts at RHHD events will continue through Nov. 24, the day before Thanksgiving, but then most will halt through Saturday. Visit vax.rchd.com to see a complete list of vaccination dates and times available through the agency. Vaccinations also are available at numerous pharmacies and medical offices.

The RHHD will host vaccination events for children (with vaccines also available for adults) this Saturday, Nov. 20, at Elko Middle School in Sandston and George Wythe High School in Richmond from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Overall in Henrico, almost 69% of residents now have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 62% are fully vaccinated. Both totals are slightly below the statewide figures of 73% and 64.2%, respectively, according to the VDH.

Almost 1 million Virginians (including about 42,700 in Henrico) have received booster shots to date, according to the VDH.

Of the more than 5 million state residents who have been vaccinated to date, only about 1% subsequently have tested positive for COVID.

As Thanksgiving nears, Popovich encouraged people to get vaccinated, get tested in advance of traveling for the holiday (and then stay home or away from large groups prior to traveling) and assess the risk to all family members and friends who are planning to gather for the holiday. Health officials recommend mask-wearing indoors when distancing isn’t possible and also suggest eating outside if possible, as ways to reduce the transmission risk during the holiday.