It's Not Goodbye. It's See You Later!

This week was Dr. Bonds' last day in the office as Director of the Blue Ridge Health District. On Tuesday, many of us gathered to send her off with well wishes and our sincere appreciation for all she has done as our Director.

That appreciation continued to pour in at the County of Albemarle Board of Supervisors Meeting on Wednesday, where Dr. Bonds was recognized for her exceptional service to the residents of Albemarle County and the Blue Ridge Health District. The Board thanked her for her lasting legacy of health care service, and the tangible results from her work to improve the Blue Ridge Health District for future generations. Read the full proclamation HERE.

Thank you, Dr. Bonds, for your dedication and leadership. We’ll see you later!

COVID-19 Data Dashboard Retirements

Effective today, May 20, 2022, the Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD) is retiring the local BRHD COVID-19 Data Portal. BRHD has maintained a robust local COVID-19 data portal for two years that has provided critical data to community members and leaders throughout the pandemic. Local data is essential for public health operations and policy-making and will continue to be made available through the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This change to BRHD Dashboards aligns with VDH’s announcement earlier this week retiring four COVID-19 dashboards and two landing pages. These retirements will streamline the available dashboards, better align with the data presentation of the CDC, and focus efforts on actionable data. 

The CDC dashboard is considered the standard when it comes to cases by vaccination status, as the definition of vaccination status is rapidly changing nationwide. To stay in alignment with CDC data and follow the process of many states across the country, VDH will link to this CDC dashboard when the VDH Cases by Vaccination Status dashboard is retired. Virginia’s vaccination data is expected to be included in the CDC dashboard this summer, and the dataset also will be archived on the Virginia Open Data Portal.

Local data for BRHD will remain available on VDH COVID-19 Data Dashboards.   You can click here to access a list of VDH dashboard links and instructions on how to find local data. This data resource guide is also posted on the BRHD website.

FDA Approves Boosters for Ages 5-11

Today, Friday, May 20, BRHD began administering Pfizer boosters for 5-11 year olds in the District. Children ages 5-11 years old who are five (5) months or more from the completion of their primary series are eligible for the booster. The recommendation follows the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) endorsement announced on Thursday, May 19. For 5-11 year olds who are immunocompromised, this recommendation allows them to receive their fourth dose of the vaccine.

BRHD will offer 5-11 boosters at all health department COVID clinics. Starting June 1, our mobile unit “MOBI on the Mall” will begin offering 5-11 vaccines. MOBI will be stationed in front of The Whiskey Jar at 207 West Main Street from 12:00-3:00pm each Wednesday through the end of June.

Walk-ins are welcome at all locations. Appointments for any COVID vaccine at a BRHD site can be made online. 5-11 year olds must be accompanied by a consenting adult. For additional assistance with scheduling, call the BRHD COVID-19 Resource Hotline Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm: 434-972-6261.

Formula Recall

In late February, Abbott recalled three brands of powdered infant formula due to possible Cronobactor contamination.

“The Virginia WIC Program continues to navigate through the formula shortage issues. With the Abbott formula recall, Virginia WIC was able to expand formula options available to our participants. The list of the most recently updated Virginia WIC-approved formulas and substitutions can be located on our webpage at virginiawic.com. The low inventory of formula is causing many of our participants to search at multiple authorized vendors to locate necessary products. In some instances, Virginia WIC is able to order formula through our formula distribution warehouse for participants; however many of those items are backordered and out of stock as well. Virginia WIC continues to work with our participants and their healthcare providers to help locate the necessary formulas,” said State WIC Director Paula N. Garrett, MS, RD.

For more information on the infant formula shortage, including resources and frequently asked questions, visit the VDH website. Virginia WIC has also created a guide for acceptable formula substitutions for those unable to locate their usual formulas. 

COVID-19 Memorial Event: Tuesday, May 24

On May 24, 2022 a number of community partners in the District will come together to host a COVID-19 Memorial Service at the Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital Amphitheater. This event will be held to honor the community members and loved ones we have lost to COVID-19.

The evening’s agenda includes time for reflection, words from local leaders, and a luminary lighting ceremony. This event is free and open to the public, and hospital parking is available. Signage will be posted on-site directing you to the amphitheater. Seating is limited so attendees are encouraged to bring their own seating. Please do not bring pets. To check for weather-related updates, visit our website.

Quarantine & Isolation Guidance

As cases rise across the District, it is critical to practice effective quarantine and isolation habits if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19 or test positive yourself. Mitigation strategies like quarantining and isolating are proven methods for protecting your loved ones, reducing community spread, and helping keep our local hospital systems from reaching capacity. 

According to the CDC, if exposed to a positive COVID-19 case:

• Individuals up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines or those with a positive test in the last 90 days should commit to a 10-day period of strict mask usage around others. 
• Individuals NOT up to date on COVID-19 vaccines (incomplete series or no booster) should quarantine for 5 days, followed by another 5 days of strict mask usage.
• All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, are recommended to get tested 5 days after the initial exposure. If at any point the individual starts experiencing symptoms, they should seek testing and return home immediately until a negative test confirms symptoms are not COVID-19 related.

The CDC has also provided isolation guidelines for anyone who tests positive for COVID-19: 

• All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, should isolate for 5 days.
• Asymptomatic individuals or those individuals with mild symptoms that resolve within 5 days may end isolation on day 5, followed by another 5-day period of strict mask usage.
• Symptomatic individuals, including those with fever or any other symptoms that have not resolved by day 5, should remain in isolation until symptoms have improved and/or they are fever free for 24 hours without the help of fever-reducing medication. 
• Individuals experiencing severe illness (requiring hospitalization, ventilation support, or intensive care) should isolate for at least 10 days.
• Moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals should isolate for at least 20 days from the positive test, due to the possibility of an extended contagious period.

The CDC recommends that because children ages 2 and under are too young to wear masks, they should quarantine or isolate for 10 days after their exposure or positive test to prevent further transmission.

Read more about quarantine and isolation guidelines on the CDC's website.

Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI)

Heritage Month Roundtable

On Wednesday, May 25, in observance of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, the Hamkae Center will host a roundtable discussion for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in frontline work. The event will feature AAPI essential workers who will be sharing their experiences, challenges, and knowledge working through the pandemic, including teachers and public health workers. 

The hope is that through this event, community members will have a chance to ask questions to Asian American public health professionals and other essential workers. Panelists will be touching upon the subject of the COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as any other concerns and challenges they have faced or are currently facing. Anyone can register for this free event HERE.

Healthy & Safe Swim Week

May 23–29, 2022 marks the seventeenth annual Healthy and Safe Swimming Week. During this week, BRHD, the Virginia Department of Health, and agencies around the country remind you that when we work together, we can help to prevent people getting sick from waterborne illness! Keeping in mind this year’s theme of “Staying Safe while Frolicking at the Splash Pad,” here are a couple of things to remember as we move toward a summer of healthy fun: 

• Avoid swallowing splash pad water - it is disinfected but still contains germs! Swallowing the water with those germs can make you sick. Chlorine doesn’t kill germs instantly.
• Stay out of splash pads if you have had vomiting or diarrhea.
• Shower with soap and water BEFORE and AFTER enjoying a splash pad.
• Provide continuous and close supervision - avoiding running means avoiding slips and falls!
• Check diapers and take bathroom breaks every hour at splash pads. When pee and poop mix with the water, they use up chlorine needed to kill germs.

Community Conversation: Vital Records

Did you know that certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates can be obtained from the Blue Ridge Health District? As long as these events occurred in Virginia, BRHD can help! Learn more from our recent Community Conversation with NBC29.

All Vital records can also be obtained from the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, 2001 Maywill Street, Suite 101, Richmond, VA 23230. The general information number is 804-662-6200.

For more information, visit the BRHD website or call your local health department.