The above counties reported no new COVID-related deaths over the last week.

State cases have been fluctuating in recent days. On Nov. 15, Virginia reported 871 new virus cases, down from 913 during last Monday’s bump. However, the state’s seven-day moving average of cases was up slightly from 1,276 Nov. 8 to 1,305 Nov. 15.

The number of individuals hospitalized for COVID-19 has continued to drop locally. On Monday, Nov. 15, Centra Health was reporting 28 total virus patients at its Lynchburg General and Centra Southside Community Hospital locations. The hospital had four patients in its ICU, two of which were ventilated. Three of the 28 patients were fully vaccinated, while the remaining 25 were unvaccinated.

Longwood University was reporting zero active cases in its campus community as of Nov. 14. Hampden-Sydney College had two active cases and one individual in quarantine as of Nov. 12.

Health officials have been hard at work since children ages 5-11 became eligible for the vaccine earlier this month.

On Monday, Piedmont Health District Director Dr. Maria Almond noted vaccine clinics held in the near future will have a large focus on boosters and child vaccine rollout.

Almond said just last week, around 350 doses of the vaccine were administered in Prince Edward County alone, and 131 local children ages 5-11 received their first shot of the Pfizer child vaccine since it became available Nov. 4.

Almond said it’s been heartwarming to share in the vaccination efforts with community partners, from county officials, frontline responders, colleges and schools, to pharmacists, nonprofits and businesses.

“We saw that partnership firsthand on Friday night when Farmville Family Pharmacy, Longwood Nursing and the Piedmont Health District combined forces to launch a vaccination clinic,” she said. “It was not just a vaccination event, but
a communal moment. It was healing to hear the laughter and see the smiling eyes of so many.”

Almond said the health district is highly focused on ensuring every single person who would like a vaccine or a booster who is eligible has the opportunity to get inoculated.

“Lack of access should never be the reason for someone to remain unvaccinated,” she emphasized.

“In many areas of the US, COVID-19 cases are rising again,” Almond said. “This virus is highly contagious. To protect yourself and those who are most vulnerable — including the front line — I ask those who can to seek vaccination. These vaccinations — all of them — are safe and significantly effective against severe disease. If you have questions or concerns, please speak with a trusted healthcare provider.”

Vaccination rates in each county of the health district, as of Monday, were as follows:

Charlotte: population fully vaccinated: 47.6%, population with booster shot: 7.6%

Lunenburg: population fully vaccinated: 48.2%, population with booster shot: 5.7%

Prince Edward: population fully vaccinated: 41.4%, population with booster shot: 8.1%

Buckingham: population fully vaccinated: 48.5%, population with booster shot: 6.3%

Cumberland: population fully vaccinated: 44.3%, population with booster shot: 6.1%

Below is a list of testing and vaccination opportunities in the coming weeks:

Wednesday, Nov. 17 — Free COVID-19 testing at Prince Edward Farmville Youth Association from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.