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Roanoke Area COVID-19 Numbers Remain Low

COVID-19 case numbers remain low in the Roanoke area.

The Roanoke City-Alleghany Health district reported 197 new cases over the last two weeks, according to Doctor Cynthia Morrow. 

That's about a tenth of what the district was recording at the peak of last winter's surge.  "That is great news that we continue our downward trend with about 100 new cases each week for the last two weeks," Morrow said during a virtual meeting with reporters Tuesday.

The number of district residents hospitalized due to complications from COVID-19 has also dropped significantly.  Morrow reported just eight hospitalizations as of Monday, down from 22 reported during the last news conference two weeks ago.  Ten additional COVID-19-related deaths were recorded in the district over the two-week period.

Mass Vaccination Clinics Wrapping Up

Morrow said the health department will hold its last mass vaccination clinic at Roanoke’s Berglund Center later this week.  The second-dose clinic is scheduled to serve about 1,200 people on Thursday.  The health department is shifting to smaller, more mobile community clinics.

Morrow said the health department and local school divisions have been conducting school-based vaccination clinics now that the Pfizer vaccine is approved for use in the 12 to 15 age group.  Morrow did not have specific data on how many children in that age group have received a shot in the district.  But she said a series of middle school clinics last week vaccinated about 500 kids.  She added that pharmacy vaccination programs have also seen an increase in the number of kids getting vaccinated.

David Seidel is Radio IQ's News Director.