On March 8, 2020, State Health Commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver spoke at a press conference following a second positive COVID-19 case in Virginia. AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez
A year after the first COVID-19 cases in Virginia were recorded, the state is making significant headway in vaccinating residents. As of Monday, March 8, 1.49 million Virginians — or 17.5% of the state’s population — have received at least one shot.
Meanwhile, the number of COVID-related deaths in Virginia was still higher than average last week due to delayed reporting of death certificates following the spike in cases during the holidays. The Virginia Department of Health reported 900 deaths last week, down from the previous week’s report of 1,297 fatalities. The state also confirmed its first virus-related fatality in a child under age 10, which occurred last week in the Central Virginia region. VDH did not share other details but noted that the child also had a chronic health condition.
