Health and Medicine
The Virginia Department of Health has published a schedule of free local COVID-19 test sites – with no registration required – through the end of March. First up is Dabney S Lancaster Community College in Clifton Forge tomorrow from 2 to 5-pm. The Salem Civic Center is next up at the same time a week from tomorrow. See the complete listing on our website and Facebook.
CLICK ON LIST BELOW TO ENLARGE
The VDH reports 5182 new confirmed and probable COVID cases statewide today – only about 60 less than the all-time record yesterday. 125 new hospitalizations and 49 new deaths over the past 24 hours as well. Locally 45 new cases, 1 new hospitalization and 1 new death in Roanoke City, 20 new cases and 2 new hospitalizations in Roanoke County, 1 new death in Salem; 24 new cases and 1 new death in Botetourt County.
Apparently the U.S. will not come close to the 20 million Americans forecasted to have received a first round of the COVID-19 vaccine by today – the number is reportedly closer to 2 million. Virginia is dealing with those logistical challenges as well. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
Dr. Cynthia Morrow/VDH-VT photo
The near-Southwest Region that includes the Roanoke Valley continues to be in the “High Burden-Substantial Activity” category when it comes to COVID-19 infection rates. Almost 1500 people were diagnosed with the coronavirus over the past week or are “probable” in the local health districts. Dr. Cynthia Morrow is with the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts – what has not been a major health factor to date she says is the flu:
The Local Office on Aging is starting to spread the word about a new free online tool called CV19 CheckUp. It’s a system that helps people reassess their own risks and the risks they pose to others from COVID-19. WFIR’s Rachel Meell has more:
To take the CV19 CheckUp assessment, click here.
