For the week ending Saturday, Oct. 26, COVID-19 accounted for 0.6% of all emergency department visits in Virginia, with trends stable from previous data. No deaths associated with COVID-19 were reported within that timeframe at time of publication. Data on COVID-19 wastewater showed levels below detection in Richmond and Henrico County as of the most recent sample collection week on Sunday, Oct. 20.

The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:

• Thursday, Oct. 31, 2-4:30 p.m. - Calvary United Methodist Church, 1637 Williamsburg Road

• Friday, Nov. 1, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. - Southside Woman, Infants and Children Office, 509 E. Southside Plaza

The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts’ resource centers are providing free at-home tests for pickup at these locations:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For Virginia Department of Health testing locations, visit vdh.virginia.gov. Additional testing site information can be found at vax.rchd.com.

Individuals interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine can schedule an appointment with the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts by calling 804-205-3501. Vaccines.gov provides a list of pharmacies and clinics offering the vaccine. Residents can also find locations by texting their ZIP code to 438829 or calling 1-800-232-0233.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a vaccine locator at vaccines.gov. Residents can also order four free at-home COVID test kits at covidtest.gov, while supplies last.

The CDC recommends the new COVID-19 vaccine for everyone age 6 months and older. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are approved for persons age 6 months and up, while Novavax is for those 12 and older. These updated vaccines are now available at pharmacies and health care providers. Health officials encourage eligible individuals to get their boosters.

For those who received previous doses, the CDC advises waiting at least two months before getting the new vaccine.

Exceptions exist for people completing an initial vaccination series, immunocompromised individuals, those who recently had COVID-19 and individuals receiving an initial series of Novavax doses.

Compiled by George Copeland Jr.