May 26 Warren County Emergency Management COVID-19 Situation Report

Warren County Emergency Services Coordinator Rick Farrall’s “SITREP” (Situation Report) of May 26 regarding updates on COVID-19 pandemic safety parameters and schedules is the final one prior to the midnight, May 28, enactment of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s loosening of social distancing and masking requirements per the recent change in U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. Those parameters have been eased due to the increasing number of Americans to be vaccinated – 40% reported fully vaccinated, 50% with at least one dose – and the increasing availability of Coronavirus vaccines.

Those vaccines have been deemed by the CDC to be increasingly effective in, not only preventing symptoms upon exposure but also limiting transmission of the Coronavirus by vaccinated people who have been exposed. COVID-19 has reportedly claimed 58 lives locally (plus-three since May 5) and over 11,140 statewide, among the nearly 590,000 deaths reported nationally and 3.5 million globally over the past year and a half.

According to CDC charts of May 29, the U.S. appears to be doing pretty well with reported daily cases dropping through the first five months of 2021, compared to the global numbers, below, over that same period. Royal Examiner Photos by Roger Bianchini

With social distancing and masking parameters changing, particularly for vaccinated people, we thought it timely to post the local, regional, state, and U.S. numbers, along with comparative previous reports included in the Warren County SITREP dating back to November 30, 2020.

Also included below following the May 26 COVID-19 numbers, under “Point of Distribution” are links to register for the increasingly available Coronavirus vaccinations; and under “Community Information” details on the governor’s Executive Order 79, as it relates to fully vaccinated and non-vaccinated people. Following that informational update, including local timelines, are SITREPS covering the previous six months of COVID-19 data locally, regionally, state, and nationwide.

5. COVID-19 Information (Current Data May 26, 2021):
6. Lord Fairfax Health District:  As of today (per the VDH website), the number of total COVID-19 cases per locality are: Clarke 985, Frederick 8,041, Page 2,064, Shenandoah 4,365, Warren 3,038 (116 are/were hospitalized, 58 deaths attributed to the County; deaths 1.90% total cases), Winchester 2,913; the current status of these patients is unknown (admitted to hospital, discharged to home isolation/quarantine, departed the District/County).
7. Commonwealth: 7,380,543 people tested (PCR only); 674,082 total cases [2.7% positive rate (PCR only)]; 29,617 total hospitalized; 11,143 total deaths (1.65%total cases).
8. United States:  As of May 25, 2021, there are 32,969,905 total cases and 587,830 total deaths (1.78%total cases) attributed to COVID-19.

Global and U.S. number of cases, fatal cases, and vaccinations administered as of May 29.

11. Point of Distribution (POD) (Parks and Recreation)
12. POD established at the 15^thSt. Gym/Cafeteria in coordination with VH/VDH for the mass distribution of critical medical supplies as required (COVID-19 vaccination).  Another term being circulated is “CVC” or Community Vaccination Center.

4. Valley Health – VDH Lord Fairfax Health District Vaccine Information (as of 5/26/2021)

1. STATEWIDE:  Get your shot and help others make a plan to get vaccinated. Getting a shot has never been easier—vaccines are readily available at many supermarket pharmacies, hospitals, doctor’s offices, local health department clinics, and state-run community vaccination centers. To find a vaccine provider near you, visit vaccinate.virginia.gov, call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682), or text your ZIP code to GETVAX (428829). Call center representatives are available from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. All Virginia residents aged 12 and older are eligible to get vaccinated.
2. LOCALLY:  VDH will offer a COVID-19 clinic every Wednesday in June (except 6/30) at the 15th St. Cafeteriain Front Royal; call 877-VAX-IN-VA or the Heath Department to schedule an appointment.

COMMUNITY INFORMATION: 

1. Executive Order 79 (2021):
2. End of Commonsense Public Health Restrictions Due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
3. Effective midnight this Friday, May 28, 2021.
4. EO-79 is in furtherance of Amended Executive Order 51 (2020).  Further, this Order terminates Seventh Amended Number Seventy-Two (2021) and Order of Public Health Emergency Nine, shall be effective midnight on May 28, 2021, and shall remain in full force and effect until amended or rescinded by further executive order.
5. EO-79 (2021):  https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/executive-actions/EO-79-and-Order-of-Public-Health-Emergency-Ten-Ending-of-Commonsense-Public-Health-Restrictions-Due-to-Novel-Coronavirus-(COVID-19).pdf
6. EO-51 (2020):  https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/executive-actions/EO-51-AMENDED-Declaration-of-a-State-of-Emergency-Due-to-Novel-Coronavirus-(COVID-19).pdf

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has critics for his Executive Order mandates on social distancing and limited indoor seating through the pandemic, but this chart indicates in comparison to at least two states, Florida and Illinois, those precautions have paid off statistically in the number of cases reported; and if national and global statistics are an indicator, that will transfer into better number in related statistics like hospitalizations and fatalities as well.

2. CDC Update as of May 13, 2021.  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html
3. CDC Summary:
4. Update that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance
5. Update that fully vaccinated people can refrain from testing following a known exposure unless they are residents or employees of a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter
6. CDC Key Points.  The following recommendations apply to non-healthcare settings. For related information for healthcare settings, visit Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination.
7. Fully vaccinated people can:
8. Resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance

iii.      Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel

1. Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States
2. Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings
3. Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic

vii.      Refrain from routine screening testing if feasible

viii.      For now, fully vaccinated people should continue to:

1. Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
2. Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations
3. Regarding Prevention Measures – unvaccinated people should wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart, and wash your hands often.

LOCAL AND REGIONAL “PHASE THREE” TIMELINE:

13. Local and Regional “Phase Three” Timeline/Updates –

1. May 24-26:Warren County Staff.  Open enrollment period for United Healthcare insurance.
2. May 26:VDH.  First day for the 15^th St. “Old Cafeteria” to be a COVID-19 Vaccination Site.
3. May 28:  Commonwealth of Virginia.  Executive Order 79 (2021) in effect and in furtherance of Executive Order 51 (2020); Executive Order 72 (2021) terminated.
4. May 31 (T):County Finance/Auditor.  CARES ACT – NLT for internally funded CARES ACT fund audit to be complete (to be updated).
5. May 31 (T):  Planning Director.  Submit FEMA-B Grant Proposal to FEMA for related expenses through September 15, 2020 (in progress).
6. June 1:  Parks and Recreation.  Resume normal operations at the 15^thSt. Gym.
7. June 23:VDH.  Last day for the 15th St. Cafeteria to be a COVID-19 Vaccination Site.
8. June 23:  Warren Memorial Hospital.  Will begin receiving patients at/transferring patients to the new hospital campus off of Leach Run Parkway (351 Valley Health Way)

June 23 is the date Valley Health has reported patients will begin being admitted and transferred to the new Warren Memorial Hospital.

18. June 30:Commonwealth.  The waiver of 18.2-422 of the Virginia Code is scheduled to expire (face coverings in public).
19. July 1:  Warren County.  Readdress the Local COVID-19 Emergency Declaration.
20. July 5:  Emergency Coordinator.  Locality CRF reporting information due to the State.
21. July 28:  Warren County Fire Rescue.  Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) “Train the Trainer” course.
22. August (TBD):  LEPC.  The next scheduled meeting is at 3:00 pm at the Public Safety Building.
23. November (TBD):  County.  Emergency Operations Plan due for 4-year BOS approval.
24. December 31:  U.S. Treasury/Commonwealth.  Allowable expenditures of CARES Act funding, to include CRF, be incurred through December 31, 2021

 Previous COVID-19 Reports

7. COVID-19 Information (Comparative Data as of May 5, 2021):
8. Lord Fairfax Health District:  As of today (per the VDH website), the number of total COVID-19 cases per locality are: Clarke 970, Frederick 7,885, Page 2,020, Shenandoah 4,277, Warren 2,918 (111 are/were hospitalized, 55 deaths attributed to the County; deaths 1.88% total cases), Winchester 2,832; the current status of these patients is unknown (admitted to hospital, discharged to home isolation/quarantine, departed the District/County).
9. Commonwealth: 7,100,444 people tested (PCR only); 663,538 total cases [4.3% positive rate (PCR only)]; 28,688 total hospitalized; 10,844 total deaths (1.60% total cases).
10. United States:  As of May 5, 2021, there are 32,313,016 total cases and 575,491 total deaths (1.80% total cases) attributed to COVID-19.

8. COVID-19 Information (Comparative Data as of April 12, 2021):
9. Lord Fairfax Health District:  As of today (per the VDH website), the number of total COVID-19 cases per locality are: Clarke 918, Frederick 7,487, Page 1,931, Shenandoah 4,002, Warren 2,688 (99 are/were hospitalized, 52 deaths attributed to the County; deaths 1.90% total cases), Winchester 2,734; the current status of these patients is unknown (admitted to hospital, discharged to home isolation/quarantine, departed the District/County).
10. Commonwealth: 6,710,355 people tested (PCR only); 636,862 total cases [6.1% positive rate (PCR only)]; 27,229 total hospitalized; 10,486 total deaths (1.60%total cases).
11. United States:  As of April 11, 2021, there are 30,965,577 total cases and 558,843 total deaths (1.80%total cases) attributed to COVID-19.

9. COVID-19 Information (Comparative Data as of February 24, 2021):
10. Lord Fairfax Health District:  As of today (per the VDH website), the number of total COVID-19 cases per locality are: Clarke 752, Frederick 6,704, Page 1,815, Shenandoah 3,677, Warren 2,260 (89 are/were hospitalized, 42 deaths attributed to the County; deaths 1.86% total cases), Winchester 2,450; the current status of these patients is unknown (admitted to hospital, discharged to home isolation/quarantine, departed the District/County).
11. Commonwealth:  5,799,799 total people tested (PCR only); 568,946 total cases [8.0% positive rate (PCR only)]; 23,798 total hospitalized; 7,807 total deaths (1.37%total cases).
12. United States:  As of February 23, 2021, there are 27,993,504 total cases and 498,993 total deaths (1.78%total cases) attributed to COVID-19.

10. COVID-19 Information (Comparative Data as of January 29, 2021):
11. Lord Fairfax Health District:  As of today (per the VDH website), the number of total COVID-19 cases per locality are: Clarke 663, Frederick 5,895, Page 1,606, Shenandoah 3,358, Warren 1,940 (75 are/were hospitalized, 37 deaths attributed to the County; deaths 1.91% total cases), Winchester 2,260; the current status of these patients is unknown (admitted to hospital, discharged to home isolation/quarantine, departed the District/County).
12. Commonwealth:  5,180,202 total people tested (PCR only); 497,912 total cases [12.2% positive rate (PCR only)]; 21,241 total hospitalized; 6,379 total deaths (1.28%total cases).
13. United States:  As of January 28, 2021, at 11:54 PM, there are 25,456,670 total cases and 427,626 total deaths (1.68%total cases) attributed to COVID-19.

11. COVID-19 Information (Comparative Data as of December 30, 2020):
12. Lord Fairfax Health District:  As of today (per the VDH website), there are 9,877 confirmed COVID-19 cases (Clarke 385, Frederick 3,703, Page 1,015, Shenandoah 2,186, Warren 1,321 (69 are/were hospitalized, 33 deaths attributed to the County; deaths 2.50% total cases), Winchester 1,637); the current status of these patients is unknown (admitted to hospital, discharged to home isolation/quarantine, departed the District/County).
13. Commonwealth:  4,220,943 total people tested (PCR only); 344,345 total cases [12.7% positive rate (PCR only)]; 17,910 total hospitalized; 4,984 total deaths (1.45%total cases).
14. United States:  As of December 29, 2020, at 2:25 PM, there are 19,232,843 total cases and 334,029 total deaths (1.74%total cases) attributed to COVID-19.

12. COVID-19 Information (Comparative Data as of November 30, 2020):
13. Lord Fairfax Health District:  As of today (per the VDH website), there are 6,357 confirmed COVID-19 cases (Clarke 208, Frederick 2,228, Page 593, Shenandoah 1,403, Warren 859 (61 are/were hospitalized, 26 deaths attributed to the County; deaths 3.03% total cases), Winchester 1,066); the current status of these patients is unknown (admitted to hospital, discharged to home isolation/quarantine, departed the District/County).
14. Commonwealth:  3,326,327 total people tested (PCR only); 237,835 total cases [7.5% positive rate (PCR only)]; 14,619 total hospitalized; 4,062 total deaths (1.71%total cases).
15. United States:  As of November 29, 2020, at 1:32 PM, there are 13,142,997 total cases and 265,166 total deaths (2.02%total cases) attributed to COVID-19.