As kids head back to school, COVID-19 cases on the rise in Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — With kids heading back to school in Virginia, it’s not just lunches and homework parents need to be worried about — experts say they should also watch out for COVID-19.

According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), 6,727 Virginians tested positive for COVID-19 from Aug. 4 to Aug. 10, a 54% increase from the week before (4,275 cases). Hospitalizations are also up 9%.

“The percentage of emergency room visits that are for COVID-19 are increasing,” Dr. Elaine Perry, Director of the Richmond/Henrico Health District, told 8News.

However, for parents worried about their kids catching COVID-19 at school, doctors say there is some good news.

“Most COVID cases in pediatric populations are asymptomatic and mild, so the likelihood of a child getting COVID-19 and being hospitalized is low, and that’s very encouraging,” said Dr. Gonzalo Bearman, Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at VCU Health.

Despite that, experts say there are still things parents should do to protect their children, including encouraging kids to wash their hands and keeping them at home when they experience COVID symptoms like a fever or cough.

“Sometimes it’s hard for people to stay home,” said. Dr. Perry. “People have to work, people don’t want their kids to miss school, but it really is important for us all to do that and not try and be tough and go to work or go to school when we are not feeling well.”

Perry also said parents should consider getting their children the new COVID-19 vaccine when it comes out in a couple of weeks.

“Even people who been sick before, who have been vaccinated before, should still go ahead and get this new vaccine that will help protect them better against these new variants, against these newer strains that are circulating now,” Dr. Perry told 8News.

Although cases are on the rise, COVID-19 deaths are not. Virginia has reported only two deaths in each of the last two reporting periods.

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