COVID-19 News and Updates
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
The Chesterfield Health District (CHD) is a division of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). The CHD is comprised of the counties of Chesterfield and Powhatan and the city of Colonial Heights. VDH distributes COVID-19 vaccines to local health districts, such as CHD, which then administer the vaccine to eligible individuals within the health district, according to phases set by VDH. For current vaccination data for Chesterfield County and the Chesterfield Health District, as well as overall vaccination data for Greater Richmond region localities, visit the Chesterfield COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard. To find a COVID-19 vaccine near you, visit VaccineFinder.org.
To view current information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine in:
- Virginia, visit the VDH COVID-19 Vaccination Response webpage
- Chesterfield Health District, visit the VDH Chesterfield Health District webpage
- Chesterfield County, visit the Chesterfield COVID-19 Vaccine Information webpage
Oct. 26, 2022 Update - 12:45 p.m.
Virginia Department of Health Announces Novavax COVID-19 Booster Vaccines Are Now Available in the Commonwealth
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has announced the immediate availability of a free booster dose of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, following authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday, Oct. 19.
The booster dose is authorized for persons aged 18 years and older who, for medical or accessibility issues, cannot take one of the mRNA bivalent COVID-19 vaccines or who would not take a booster otherwise. The Novavax vaccine is based on a technology different from the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
The Novavax booster vaccine may only be used as a first booster, meaning that anyone who has already had one or multiple booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and/or Moderna vaccines may not receive the Novavax booster at this time. It is to be administered at least six months after a person has completed a primary COVID-19 vaccine series.
The Novavax monovalent booster targets the original strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that first appeared in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, while the bivalent boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna also target the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the Omicron variant that emerged in the United States in November 2021. Novavax has a bivalent booster in testing.
Free vaccination opportunities may be found at Vaccinate.Virginia.gov. Information about all the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for administration in the U.S. is available at the VDH COVID-19 vaccine website. The Vaccinate Virginia Call Center is an additional source of information; call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information is available in English, Spanish and more than 100 other languages.
View the full news release the Virginia Department of Health Newsroom.
Oct. 24, 2022 Update - 2 p.m.
Virginia Department of Health Continues to Make Changes to COVID-19 Dashboards to Streamline Data
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) continues to streamline information on its COVID-19 data dashboards to better highlight current COVID-19 trends in Virginia and inform action. As of Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, VDH retired several COVID-19 data dashboards and updated others. No access to any currently available data is being removed, rather the dashboards are being streamlined and consolidated.
The following dashboards have been retired:
- COVID-19 Cases Among Children: Cases, hospitalizations, and deaths by age group, including children, are available on the Cases Demographics dashboard.
- MIS-C: Multisystem Inflammatory System in Children (MIS-C) total cases and deaths in Virginia are available on the Cases Summary dashboard.
- COVID-19 Testing: The most recent-7 day positivity percentage for PCR testing in Virginia is available on the Cases Summary dashboard. Other testing data is available on the CDC Community Levels dashboard.
The following dashboards have been updated:
- COVID-19 Vaccine Summary: Reduced high-level statewide vaccine metrics and graphs about vaccine doses administered.;
- COVID-19 Vaccine Demographics: Updated vaccination status filters to replace “first booster” and “second booster” with “monovalent booster” and “bivalent booster.”
The changes are intended to streamline the information that is most helpful in tracking COVID-19 and its impacts on Virginia at this point in the pandemic. View available VDH COVID-19 dashboards.
View the full news release the Virginia Department of Health Newsroom.
Oct. 17, 2022 Update - 10:30 a.m.
Virginia Department of Health Announces Availability of Bivalent COVID-19 Booster Vaccines for Pediatric Patients
Parents of young children in Virginia are now able to seek a free bivalent pediatric COVID-19 booster vaccine for their children aged five years and older, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced today, following the recommendation of the booster vaccines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday, Oct. 12.
The Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster, currently available for persons aged 12 years and older who have completed their primary series or received their last monovalent booster at least two months ago, is now available for children aged 5 years to 11 years with a dosing of a third of the adult dose. The Moderna bivalent booster, currently available for persons aged 18 years and older who have completed their primary series or received their last monovalent booster at least two months ago, is now available for children aged 6 years to 11 years with a dosing of a half of the adult dose and for children and adolescents aged 12 years through 17 years with a dosing identical to Moderna’s adult vaccine.
Both bivalent boosters are targeted at the original strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that first emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, and at the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the Omicron variant that emerged in the United States in November 2021.
VDH advises parents to discuss this option with their child’s healthcare provider. Vaccination opportunities may be found at Vaccinate.Virginia.gov. Information about all the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for administration in the U.S. is available at the VDH COVID-19 vaccine webpage. The Vaccinate Virginia Call Center is an additional source of information; call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information is available in English, Spanish and more than 100 other languages.
View the full news release the Virginia Department of Health Newsroom.
Sept. 7, 2022 Update - 10 a.m.
Bivalent COVID-19 Booster Vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Now Available
Eligible residents of Virginia are able to schedule appointments with their healthcare providers to receive the new, free COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccinations, manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The new updated boosters are targeted specifically at the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the Omicron variant that initially emerged in the United States in November 2021.
“The elderly and those with significant chronic disease remain at the highest risk of severe illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19,” said State Health Commissioner Colin M. Greene, MD, MPH. “Being vaccinated and boosted significantly reduces this risk.”
On Aug. 31, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the two vaccines. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel of independent scientific advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), met Sept. 1 and voted to recommend the Pfizer-BioNTech updated bivalent vaccine for persons aged 12 years and older and the Moderna updated bivalent vaccine for persons aged 18 years and older at least two months after completion of a primary series or booster dose. The CDC director endorsed the ACIP recommendations on Sept. 1.
The state’s 35 local health districts have pre-ordered 100,800 Pfizer-BioNTech vials and 40,900 Moderna vials through the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). Pre-ordered vaccine is anticipated to arrive at local health department offices and partner providers by Sept. 6. Pharmacies preordered vaccines through their federal partnership as well.
People with questions about the vaccine and their individual situations are advised to contact their healthcare providers.
To find free vaccination opportunities near you, visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Assistance is available in English, Spanish and more than 100 other languages.
View the full news release the Virginia Department of Health Newsroom.
Feb. 28, 2022 Update - 4 p.m.
Chesterfield Revises Policy on Masks in Public Buildings
All county employees no longer will be required to wear face coverings while in the workplace
With the number of new COVID-19 cases, positivity percentage and hospitalization rates falling dramatically in the county over the past three weeks, as well as updated guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Chesterfield County has amended its policy on the use of face coverings by employees in public buildings.
Effective immediately, the wearing of masks indoors in county facilities is optional for employees and citizens without illness symptoms, a positive test or recent exposure to someone with COVID-19.
On Friday, Feb. 25, the CDC revised its metrics for community COVID risk levels and guidance for precautionary measures, including the wearing of masks indoors. The CDC is no longer recommending the need for these precautions in areas of medium and low risk, as determined by the 7-day average number of new cases, COVID-related hospitalizations and inpatient bed usage rates.
In addition, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) is currently in the process of rescinding its workplace COVID regulations, which include workplace masking requirements.
Under the county’s updated policy, masks still should be worn in healthcare settings, high-risk congregate settings such as correctional facilities, or when working with individuals who either are suspected of having COVID-19 or have been exposed to the virus.
Any employee may voluntarily wear a mask or facial covering as a personal preference, without discrimination or bias, and without harassment by another employee.
Employees also must continue to perform a daily health self-assessment and stay home when sick.
View the full news release.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, each month there are important updates and announcements shared with the Chesterfield community. This archive contains links to all such updates, organized by month.
October 2022 Updates
To view October 2022 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - October 2022.
September 2022 Updates
To view September 2022 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - September 2022.
July 2022 Updates
To view July 2022 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - July 2022.
June 2022 Updates
To view June 2022 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - June 2022.
May 2022 Updates
To view May 2022 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - May 2022.
April 2022 Updates
To view April 2022 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - April 2022.
March 2022 Updates
To view March 2022 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - March 2022.
February 2022 Updates
To view February 2022 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - February 2022.
January 2022 Updates
To view January 2022 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - January 2022.
December 2021 Updates
To view December 2021 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - December 2021.
November 2021 Updates
To view November 2021 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - November 2021.
October 2021 Updates
To view October 2021 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - October 2021.
September 2021 Updates
To view September 2021 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - September 2021.
August 2021 Updates
To view August 2021 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - August 2021.
July 2021 Updates
To view July 2021 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - July 2021.
June 2021 Updates
To view June 2021 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - June 2021.
May 2021 Updates
To view May 2021 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - May 2021.
April 2021 Updates
To view April 2021 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - April 2021.
March 2021 Updates
To view March 2021 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - March 2021.
February 2021 Updates
To view February 2021 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - February 2021.
January 2021 Updates
To view January 2021 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - January 2021.
December 2020 Updates
To view December 2020 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - December 2020.
November 2020 Updates
To view November 2020 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - November 2020.
October 2020 Updates
To view October 2020 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - October 2020.
September 2020 Updates
To view September 2020 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - September 2020.
August 2020 Updates
To view August 2020 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - August 2020.
July 2020 Updates
To view July 2020 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - July 2020.
June 2020 Updates
To view June 2020 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - June 2020.
May 2020 Updates
To view May 2020 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - May 2020.
April 2020 Updates
To view April 2020 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - April 2020.
March 2020 Updates
To view March 2020 updates, visit COVID-19 Updates Archive - March 2020.