For the week ending on Saturday, Aug. 24, confirmed hospital admissions for COVID-19 in Virginia fell by 5.2% from the previous week, and new admissions remain low. Four deaths associated with COVID-19 were reported within the same timeframe. Updated data on COVID-19 wastewater levels in the Greater Richmond area showed plateaued levels starting the week of Sunday, Aug. 18.

RHHD’s Resource Centers are providing free at-home tests for pickup at select locations:

• Creighton Court at 2150 Creighton Road, call 804-371-0433.

• Fairfield Court at 2311 N. 25th St., call 804-786-4099.

• Gilpin Court at 436 Calhoun St., call 804-786-1960.

• Hillside Court at 1615 Glenfield Ave., call 804-230-7740.

• Mosby Court at 1536 Coalter St., call 804-786-0204.

• Southwood Court at 1754 Clarkson Road. Unit #B, call 804-230-2077.

• Whitcomb Court at 2106 Deforrest St., call 804-786-0555.

For more information on testing sites visit vax.rchd.com.

The Virginia Department of Health testing locations are listed at vdh.virginia.gov.

Households also will soon be able to order four free COVID-19 tests at COVIDTests.gov.

Want a COVID-19 vaccine?

Those interested can schedule an appointment with RHHD by calling (804) 205-3501. Vaccines.gov also lists pharmacies and clinics that offer the COVID-19 vaccine, and those interested can also text their ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233.

A new vaccine locator is set to be released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through vaccines.gov.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved updated versions of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for 2024 and 2025, and they are set for distribution in September ahead of cold and flu season in the fall and winter months.

The FDA currently recommends that children between the ages of 6 months to 4 years receive three doses of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or two doses of the updated Moderna vaccine if unvaccinated.

Those in the age range that had previously received the vaccine can get one or two doses of either updated vaccine, depending on when their last dose was previously received and how many.

Waiting periods for additional vaccines can change depending on previous vaccine doses.

Children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old who are unvaccinated or have received a previous dose should get one updated Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Children in that age range that have been vaccinated against COVID-19 must wait at least two months after their previous dose before getting the new dose.

The CDC recommends those age 12 and older who are unvaccinated or received a vaccine previously should get either one updated Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 must wait at least two months after their previous dose before getting the new one.

People who are immunocompromised are encouraged to talk with their health care providers about how they should approach the updated vaccines.

Information compiled by George Copeland Jr.