“The need to boost is greater than ever in the face of omicron,” Avula said.
Similar to last December, the region and state are amid a steep rise in cases and hospitalizations.
In Richmond, there were 134 new cases reported Tuesday, bringing the 7-day rolling average per 100,000 residents to 223, up 38% from last week, according to figures made available by the Virginia Department of Health. Since March 2020, the city has had 26,567 coronavirus cases. In that span, 380 people in Richmond have died from the virus.
“Let me just emphasize this: The vaccines are working. If you’re fully vaccinated, including a booster, you have a high degree of protection against severe illness,” Stoney said at the briefing. “We are seeing breakthrough cases, but vaccination protects against the worst symptoms of COVID-19.”
Statewide, there were 4,437 new cases reported Tuesday, according to state health department data. That’s the most in a single day since early September.
On Thanksgiving, Virginia’s weekly average of hospitalizations from confirmed or suspected COVID cases was 881. As of Tuesday, that average had risen 70%. While rising, the figure is half the level of hospitalizations during last winter’s peak.
