More people in Richmond city are being infected with and hospitalized due to COVID-19 as local health officials prepare for another likely surge of infections. They predict the city will soon reach the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s medium community level.
The city currently remains at a low level with a weekly rate of 193 cases per 100,000 people. It will be upgraded to medium when it exceeds 200 cases.
The CDC’s community level system is designed to analyze case and hospitalization rates, as well as hospital capacity, so vaccinated individuals assess their own risk.
Amy Popovich is with the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts. During a press Wednesday conference, she said cases in Richmond city soon could surpass even the medium level.
“We wouldn’t be surprised at all if tomorrow we were at medium designation or high within the next few weeks,” Popovich said.
She said the same is true for Henrico County, which is already at medium with a rate of nearly 295 cases per 100,000 people.
“We would move to, if we went to a high or orange level, indoor mask-wearing, social distancing when possible and making sure we’re anticipating potentially isolating or quarantining,” Popovich said.
Residents should prepare by keeping up to date with CDC guidelines, like wearing masks around others and stocking up on at-home tests, Popovich said.
Free at-home tests can be obtained at some Richmond Public Library locations, as well as through USPS. Testing sites can be found on the health district’s website.