Two foxes found in the same general area of Christiansburg have tested positive for rabies, according to the New River Health District.

Two years ago, a nationwide emergency was declared in the face of the coronavirus pandemic as it rapidly spread across the world.

Monday marks two years since the first case of COVID-19 was detected in Virginia.

The CDC says it’s no longer necessary for people to wear masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school or private school systems, including early care and education/child care programs.

In the last two weeks, the U.S. infection rate has dropped 64%.

New coronavirus cases are down 35% in the New River Valley, according to the health district’s leader.

The Supreme Court of Virginia dismissed a lawsuit challenging Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order.

Dr. Noelle Bissell of the New River Valley Health District said Monday that while we're not seeing a spike in colleges and universities, it made sense to encourage mandating the COVID-19 vaccines in high-risk populations of spreading.

It’s a new weekly update, but the same headline: The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts are reporting record numbers of cases of COVID-19.

A local health director is getting ready to see a rise in COVID cases this holiday season.

COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the New River Valley.

A local school district is making it easier for students and staff to get tested for COVID-19.

Global risk of a new COVID variant leads to President Joe Biden implementing new travel restrictions for eight South African countries.

Kids aged 5-11 will be able to get their COVID-19 vaccine in Christiansburg on Friday, Nov. 19.

Health leaders say they go into schools on a regular basis to offer flu vaccines and find most parents want to be present when their child is vaccinated.

This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highly recommends trick-or-treating outside in small groups and avoiding crowded indoor Halloween parties.

Dr. Noelle Bissell of the New River Health District says we are reaching a level where there's significant immunity between people who have been infected and those who are vaccinated. However, you must remain cautious while traveling and gathering.

Children may soon roll up their sleeves now that Pfizer announces its coronavirus vaccine is effective for children between the ages of 5 and 11.

A new study finds that Virginia is the 10th most vaccinated state in the country.

Major events are drawing concern because of an increase in the delta variant and covid-19 cases.

Virginia Tech will require fans to wear masks in certain areas of Lane Stadium at Friday’s football game.

While the school year is starting off strong for many who attend schools in the Mount Rogers Health District, health leaders report daily case counts are increasing, hospitals are filling up and burnout is leading to staffing shortages.

Monday marked a major step in the fight against COVID-19 as the Food and Drug Administration granted full approval of Pfizer’s vaccine against the virus.

Health officials said that it’s highly discouraging that the numbers continue to rise.

As cases from the Delta variant of COVID-19 continue to rise, health officials are sounding the alarm.

The nation’s top health agency says masks won’t be necessary inside for vaccinated teachers and students.

On Monday, health officials reported that the New River Valley has just 46% of its adult population partially vaccinated.

About 70,000 people in the New River Valley have been vaccinated so far.

The New River Health District is making a big effort to get more shots in arms.

With coronavirus transmission and case numbers low in the New River Valley, residents are on track to a more promising return to a normal summer, according to the health director.

With teens now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, debates are heating up between families about whether to vaccinate their kids.

Health leaders across Southwest and Central Virginia are seeing a drop in demand of those interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Cases are down across the New River Health District and vaccinations are up. And now, children 12 and up are eligible to get a COVID vaccine, which means the new “normal” is closer than ever before.

After federal officials lifted a recommended pause on the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, local health departments are working to help the public regain trust in the only one-shot dose available

There are signs of hope for the New River Health District as coronavirus cases continue to decline, but new fears are deterring people from getting their vaccine or missing their second dose.

Thursday the New River Health District teamed up with the university to host a mass vaccinate site at Lane Stadium.

If you’re still in need of the COVID-19 vaccine, you’re in luck. There will be vaccine clinics to anyone ages 18 and up Thursday, April 15 in Blacksburg and Friday, April 16 in Christiansburg.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine shortage is impacting all of Virginia and the New River Valley.

As more people get the COVID-19 vaccine, we’re working to find out why some people have no reaction to the shot, while others experience some side effects.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – Health officials in the New River Valley are not getting as many doses of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as expected. Health Director Dr. Noelle Bissell says people in the district have the most interest in the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. “We have a lot of people who have expressed interest in the Johnson and Johnson because it is a one-and-done shot. So we have a waitlist as soon as we get it that we can offer to people to come to a clinic that is Johnson and Johnson specific,” New River Health Director Dr. Noelle Bissell said. Bissell is still advising the community to get whatever vaccine becomes available first so the region can reach herd immunity against the virus.

The Biden administration is working on a vaccine passport that would be used for work, school and international travel to prove you received the vaccine. Travel is starting to pick up as more people are getting vaccinated and that’s why the vaccine passport may be needed. “It wouldn’t be unheard of if they do start requiring people to prove their vaccination before they travel,” she said. Also, if the vaccine passport is on a digital app, Boettcher said travelers without smartphones may have a problem. “Not all countries globally have the vaccine rollout as quickly as we have it here in the U.S,” he said.

Civic organizations in Salem are holding a clothing drive today. You can drop them off from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Salem Civic Center near the Community Room. The Botetourt County School Board will hold a public hearing about is budget for the next fiscal year. If you would like to comment ahead of time, you can contact the School Board Clerk. The LFA Kids Consignment Sale returns to the Berglund Center today.

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The next step of COVID-19 vaccination is quickly approaching in the New River Valley. New River Valley Health Director Dr. Noelle Bissell expects to move the district, which covers Montgomery, Floyd, Pulaski and Giles County, as well as the city of Radford, into Phase 1c of vaccinations next week. Bissell estimates that more than 50,000 people in the New River Valley will qualify for the vaccine in the next phase. [COVID vaccine Phase 1c starting this week in parts of Virginia with everyone there by mid-April]Phase 1c includes university staff and students, a big step in a district that includes both Virginia Tech and Radford University. Ad“We are starting to schedule our employee groups in 1C, which is a large population in the New River Valley,” Bissell said.

However, spring break looks different for many students this year. While some colleges are still offering a week-long spring break, others are not. Virginia Western Community College spring break will be from March 14 - 21. “We’ve had two spring break days so far,” Grace Digirolamo, a Virginia Tech student said. Ad“We’re just grateful for any time at all to have,” Nyah Huntley, Virginia Tech student, said.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – On Thursday night, leaders in the New River Valley hosted a virtual forum for the state of COVID-19 in the region. Health leaders said they’ve learned a lot through this experience, chiefly keeping the big picture in mind when it comes to case numbers. “If you are looking at the VDH website on a daily basis, please stop,” New River Valley Health District Epidemiologist Jason Deese said. “And the goal right now is we can divert a lot of individuals away from the emergency rooms at our local hospitals to that center to be pre-screened,” New River Community Services Executive Director James Pritchett said. “Our supply is not nearly as great as our demand, we do have to continue to prioritize according to the CDC and VDH guidance,” New River Valley Health District Director Dr. Noelle Bissell said.

NEW RIVER VALLEY, Va. – New River Valley Health District Director Dr. Noelle Bissell said the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine could be a better fit for some people, especially vulnerable populations. Half of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines will go to pharmacies and partners for the 65+ population. The other half is for frontline essential workers in Phase 1b and those in Phase 1a, as well as high-priority individuals in Phase 1b who waited specifically for the one-dose vaccine. “We offer the Johnson & Johnson out. The NRV Public Health Task Force is planning a large vaccination event on Monday, March 8, to distribute a big chunk of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

RADFORD, Va. – The Dedmon Center is the home of Radford University basketball, but it hosted a more important series of shots on Saturday. The New River Valley Health District and Radford University joined forces on a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the arena. “Let’s just keep celebrating the vaccines as they go into arms, as they complete the series, as they get people vaccinated,” said New River Valley health director Dr. Noelle Bissell. They feel like there is an end to this.”Bissell said about 2,500 people in the New River Valley were eligible for the clinic. She now reports 12,000 people in the New River Valley have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

ROANOKE, Va. – With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration deeming the Johnson and Johnson safe to use and effective, it could be key to helping solve the distribution dilemma in the Commonwealth. Despite the Johnson and Johnson vaccine being 66% effective, Dr. Noelle Bissell, the director for the New River Health District, said it will work. “We say this every year about flu vaccinations. Even flu vaccinations are not even that high.”Requiring standard refrigeration temperatures, Bissell said the vaccine is a more convenient dose to deliver and administer. “The Johnson and Johnson works very well if you are going to do a big drive-thru event because again it’s a one-time dose,” she said.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va – The New River Health District is making changes to its COVID-19 vaccination clinics due to expected winter weather Thursday. Appointments scheduled for then were either honored Wednesday and will also be honored on Friday, as long as conditions improve by then. New River Health Director Noelle Bissell wants to remind the community that just because the weather is bad, COVID-19 doesn’t stop spreading. If we do have power outages and other weather issues,” said Bissell. For more information, you can visit the New River Health District’s Facebook page.

BLACKSBURG, Va – Concerns over new COVID-19 variants have Virginia Tech stepping up testing and asking the campus to prevent community spread. Just over a month into the spring semester, Virginia Tech President, Tim Sands, is calling on his students and staff to stop the spread of COVID-19. “As of right now, the numbers at Virginia Tech are not trending in a good way, they are going up,” university spokesperson Mark Owczarski said. The announcement comes just one day after the University of Virginia started implementing strict guidelines banning all in-person events. AdAccording to New River Health Director Noelle Bissell, most of the New River Valley’s COVID-19 testing goes to the Fralin Biomedical Institute.

Pulaski, Va. – While coronavirus cases are declining in the New River Valley, Pulaski County Public Schools wants to extend their school return plan to in-person learning all week. More than 90,000 people are eligible for the vaccine in the New River Valley, but the health district is only receiving about 2,000 vaccines a week. While new coronavirus variants have not made their way to the New River Valley area yet, Bissell said people still need to watch out. AdBut now with Pulaski County Public Schools releasing a plan to start in-person learning five days a week in mid-March, Dr. Bissell said it’s not too late in the school year to start the transition. Therefore, starting mid-March, the school board wants to start in-person learning five days a week.

PULASKI COUNTY, Va. – Starting Thursday, Pulaski County Schools returned to 100% in-person learning, a move the health district director agrees with. The school district moved away from the all virtual method after school leaders were concerned students were being left behind. New River Health District Director Dr. Noelle Bissell said as long as students and staff wear masks and practice safety, she is giving the plan a thumbs up. “Every time we look at a decision like this you have to look at the risks of doing it versus the risk of not doing it,” she said. However, Bissell still urges people to take safety precautions outside of school until more people are vaccinated.

Super Bowl Sunday is coming up. If you were hoping to catch the game and enjoy some food with friends, a local health expert wants you to think twice. Gathering for a Super Bowl party can spread COVID-19. Dr. Noelle Bissell, the director of the New River Valley Health District, says if the weather’s nice, people could celebrate the Super Bowl outdoors as long as there’s enough space to spread out and people wear masks. “An event like Super Bowl could definitely turn into an event where we would see a cluster of cases resulting from that,” said Bissell.

VIRGINIA – Virginia’s getting more shots in arms thanks to a new federal partnership between the CDC and pharmacies across the country. CVS plans to distribute 26,000 COVID-19 vaccines in the Commonwealth starting next week. “They’re critical to expanding our capabilities,” said New River Valley Health District Director Dr. Noelle Bissell. But a CVS spokesperson said the company doesn’t have a list of exact stores getting vaccines. Starting Feb. 9, people can start making appointments either online, on the CVS Pharmacy App or by calling CVS customer service at 1-800-746-7287.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va – The New River Health District says it is having a hard time keeping up with the demand for the COVID-19 vaccine. The district has done over 12,000 vaccinations since it started receiving its first doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine last month. New River Health District Director Dr. Noelle Bissell says the health district was originally getting about 5,000 doses a week but now it’s only getting 2,000 doses a week. [Virginia planning to release 40,000 coronavirus vaccines first-doses by Sunday]“We definitely have greater vaccinating capacity than we do have vaccines available so we’re waiting for that day when windows floodgates open and there’s more vaccine, because right now we have a tremendous challenge trying to deal with the uncertainty of how much vaccine we have from day to day or week to week,” Bissell said. Bissell expects the New River Health District expects to stay in Phase 1b until at least February.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va – Health officials in the New River Valley are becoming overwhelmed with the public’s demand for the COVID-19 vaccine. The New River Health District has distributed nearly 10,000 doses since getting its first shipment. Right now the district is finishing up its efforts to vaccinate teachers and people ages 65+. New River Health Director Dr. Noelle Bissell says sometimes the health district gets more than 100 calls a minute related to the vaccine. Bissell says unless other COVID-19 vaccines get approved or the state starts getting bigger shipments, the health district could remain in Phase 1b as late as March.

GILES COUNTY, Va. – On Friday, Giles County seniors like Diane Mullis lined up to get their coveted COVID-19 vaccine. “We are very grateful and very relieved,” said Mullis, a 77-year-old from Giles County. “Localities are going to have to step up and try to help I think through this process if we’re really going to get the vaccine out,” said Giles County Administrator Chris McKlarney. Don’t just show up at a vaccine clinic and don’t try to register if you’re not in Phase 1-a or Phase 1-b. That way, they can get the vaccine in as many arms as possible for those who need it most.

BLACKSBURG, Va – With the start of the spring semester just days away, Virginia Tech President Tim Sands says employees are working around the clock to welcome students back to Blacksburg. During his state of the university speech Wednesday, Sands explained that Virginia Tech is facing a $60 million dollar loss stemming from the pandemic. Sands says the work and research being done at Virginia Tech Carilion have significantly increased both the university and the state’s response to the pandemic. During his state of the university speech Wednesday, Sands explained that Virginia Tech is facing a $60 million dollar loss stemming from the pandemic. Despite that, the university remains committed to studying and expanding testing for COVID-19.

NEW RIVER VALLEY, Va. – Virginians are eagerly awaiting the COVID-19 vaccine, but Phase 1-b looks different across the Commonwealth. Wednesday, she gave an update about vaccine distribution and said they’re getting about 4,000 to 5,000 vaccines a week. She attributes their success to the NRV Public Health Taskforce, the Medical Reserve Corps and community support. And the other is what is the supply, not only of the vaccine, but the capacity of that local health district? The New River Valley Health District launched a new vaccine hotline for people to ask questions at 540-838-8222, while the Giles County hotline is 540-921-0035.

PULASKI COUNTY, Va. – Many essential workers in the New River Valley are now done with the first of two coronavirus vaccine doses. On Monday, teachers from two Pulaski County Elementary schools received their first dose of the vaccine. Staff from every school in the division could be vaccinated by the end of the week. Since so many essential workers fall within the Phase 1B vaccination category, New River Health Director Dr. Noelle Bissell expects it to take some time. Boadwine said that while it’s been the toughest school year to date, she’s happy most of her students have continued in-person learning.

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination in Virginia is right around the corner. Starting Monday, parts of the commonwealth will move into Phase 1B of its vaccination plan. “This is a real time thing; it’s incredible the vaccine is being rolled out this quickly.”The new vaccinations come amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in Virginia. “The vaccine is more important than ever right now,” Bissell said. “If we can put a break in the transmission, that’s where we’re going to see the end of the pandemic.”More information about the New River Valley’s vaccination plan is available at this link.

NEW RIVER VALLEY – The debate continues to heat up as people weigh in on whether students should return to class. Despite a rise in cases in the New River Valley after the holidays, Dr. Noelle Bissell, director of the New River Valley health district, said a plan to get kids back in the classroom is needed. “You have to look at the risk of bringing them back versus the risk of not bringing them back in,” Bissell said. Bissell said with most students living off-campus, it’s not fair to point the finger at them if cases spike. “I do want to get away from this blaming our students for bringing it or exacerbating it,” Bissell said.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va – Long-term care facilities in the New River Valley could start receiving the COVID-19 vaccines as early as next week. On Wednesday, the New River Health District received its first shipment of the Moderna vaccine. While plans are still being made for public distribution, New River Health Director Doctor Noelle Bissell said they are working as quickly as possible to get people vaccinated. The health department is going to be prioritizing one ad, where we get our EMS providers,” Bissell said. Bissell said the health district is considering a drive-thru distribution of the vaccine but can also accommodate people indoors if the weather gets bad.

As the year comes to a close and the nation prepares for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, health officials are shifting their efforts to meet the needs of historically underserved populations. Health disparities among Hispanic and African American populations long predate the coronavirus pandemic. The National Collaborative for Health Equity has been studying these disparities for years, but uses the Hope Initiative to compare how different social factors can play a role in how healthy each state is. While Virginia ranks well in terms of social and economic outcomes, the commonwealth struggles with access to health care. The Virginia Department of Health is hosting several informational sessions regarding COVID-19 vaccine information this month.

MONGOMERY COUNTY, Va – Health officials in the New River Valley are working out their plans for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. New River Health Director Doctor Noelle Bissell explained while the first batches of the vaccine will go to at-risk populations and health care workers, the health district is also working on plans to hold vaccination events for students at Radford University and Virginia Tech. Bissell says the health district has been using flu clinics to prepare. “You know we have a pretty honed process of doing a drive-thru or a walkthrough process so I imagine that we would work with our universities and our schools and our other entities on offering it that way, there’s also logistical issues because all of the vaccines in consideration right now, our two-part vaccines,” Bissell said. Classes at both Radford University and Virginia Tech are set to start again on January 19.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY Va – Health officials in the New River Valley are gearing up for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. New River Health Director Dr. Noelle Bissell said that while they still don’t know when they will get their first shipment of the vaccine, it will likely be a limited amount. Ralph Northam lays out state’s three-phased coronavirus vaccine distribution plan]She also said that both major health systems in the New River Valley have the proper equipment to store it once it is available. They have vaccine plans in place to be able to inoculate their staff and they have done their own prioritization,” explained Bissell. Bissell also wants to warn the community that once the COVID-19 vaccine is taken, there will likely be side effects.

ROANOKE, Va. – Preparing for Thanksgiving this year, for many, included planning a complete meal and a COVID-19 test. Local testing facilities report a significant increase in demand leading up to the holiday. “We’ve seen a spike in demand that’s probably five times our normal testing volume,” admitted Jeff Howard with ARCPoint Labs in Salem. “It’s really started on Monday of this week.”Howard says they have seen an increase in positive samples over the last week. Dr. Bissell says there are several post-Thanksgiving testing events scheduled:

Va – An uptick in COVID-19 cases in the New River Valley is mostly being caused by social gatherings, according to New River Health District Director Noelle Bissell. The rise in cases has caused several school divisions in the region to transition to online learning, but Bissell says transmission isn’t happening in the classroom. “Across the district, it’s primarily spreading through social gatherings and in some of our religious services. We know how to control it, if we watch our distance and seek outside or inside well-ventilated areas, if we wear a mask and wash our hands,” Bissell said. Bissell says the rise in cases is also likely reflective of outbreaks in long-term care facilities and as cases continue to rise, it gets hard to track them.

College towns like Blacksburg and Radford saw spikes in COVID-19 cases when thousands of students came back to school. The cases have since leveled out for college-aged students, but the NRV is still seeing a spike, especially in working-aged adults. Dr. Noelle Bissell, the director of the New River Health District said it’s not because of the college students anymore. Birthday parties, sleepovers, carpooling, church events, and break-room exposures are all to blame, especially gatherings among close friends or extended family. “I think our students have modeled for others how to take this seriously and how to model public health in the name of the greater good,” said Shushok.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – As students from Virginia Tech and Radford University prepare to return home for winter break, the New River Health Director says COVID-19 case numbers among students are steady. Dr. Noelle Bissell says both universities have been conducting exit testing as students prepare to go home. The health district has also been working with students so they can stay safe while traveling. On the flip side, do I think we’re going to see a decline in cases because our college students are leaving? Both universities have testing plans in place for when students return for the start of spring semester.

The Virginia Department of Health will hold drive-thru COVID-19 testing events today. A testing site will be open from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Radford City Health Department. The Virginia Department of Health will hold a drive-thru flu shot clinic today. Virginia Career Works and the Rockbridge area Chamber of Commerce holds a Virtual Job Fair today. A Virginia Board of Education special committee meet today in Richmond.

ROANOKE, Va. – As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the region, health officials are planning and preparing to distribute a vaccine once its ready. The Virginia Department of Health and Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir teamed up to make a jingle once again asking the community to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The latest numbers from the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts show the area has a substantial amount of community transmission. As numbers continue to rise, health districts across the region have been using drive thru flu clinics as a way to practice vaccine distribution. The Director of the Roanoke Alleghany Health Districts says there is not enough information readily available about COVID-19 immunity.

RADFORD, Va – The city of Radford is ranked number five on the New York Times list of COVID-19 hotspots in the state of Virginia. The city has seen 97 new COVID-19 cases in the last week. Noelle Bissell with the New River Health District says most of the cases are from both the student population at Radford University and socialization of city residents. She warns of misconceptions that might come from data that isn’t coming directly from the health department. Bissell also says Radford might be quick to show up on a hot spot list because it has a population of less than 20,000.

The advertiser paid a fee to promote this sponsored article and may have influenced or authored the content. The views expressed in this article are those of the advertiser and do not necessarily reflect those of this site or affiliated companies. CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Health Department’s leader in the New River Valley is encouraging people to continue practicing safe behaviors amid the coronavirus pandemic. So far, coronavirus outbreaks in the New River Valley have predominantly been student-related; however, the region is currently seeing a workplace outbreak, according to Dr. Noelle Bissell, the director of the New River Health District. “The New River Valley is also experiencing a workplace outbreak this week and we will see a rise in reported new cases of COVID-19.

CHRISTIANBURG, Va – New River Health District Director Noelle Bissell says COVID-19 cases in the New River Valley are trending in the right direction. Right now most of the cases continue to be in the college populations at Virginia Tech and Radford University. Bissell says while the number of cases among students continues to decrease, with the winter months right around the corner it is now more important than ever to follow guidelines from the CDC and Virginia Department of Health. “We’re at a relatively low level of sustained community transmission, but with colder weather and COVID fatigue we run the risk of letting our guard down and we ask everyone to stay vigilant,” New River Health Director Dr. Noelle Bissell said. Bissell and the health district are also encouraging students from the university’s in the New River Valley to be cautious before potentially heading home for fall break.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va – With Halloween right around the corner, health officials in the New River Valley are encouraging the community to choose safer activities this year to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The CDC says many traditional Halloween activities can be high risk, including traditional trick-or-treating, large crowds for costume contests and indoor haunted houses. New River Health District Director Noelle Bissell said while outside activities are lower risk, traditional trick-or-treating should look different this year to keep kids safe. The New River Public Health Task force recommends attending a safely-planned community event. Montgomery CountyVirtual Ghostly Gala Halloween Costume ContestChildren 12 and under are invited to email a picture donning their Halloween costume from now through October 31 to mcpr@montgomerycountyva.gov , along with parent and child’s name and child’s age.

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va – As the number of new positive COVID-19 cases in the New River Valley continues to decline, the area’s health director is advising people about a rising phenomenon, COVID fatigue. Dr. Noelle Bissell said fewer people are being tested, wearing masks and practicing social distancing. She said that just because the numbers have been trending in the right direction, doesn’t mean they will stay that way if people continue not to follow the safety guidelines. “Even though it’s a small minority of people, it can be a problem because we know that those are the types of events where COVID can spread quite effectively, literally less than 20% of people are responsible for spreading a significant amount of COVID,” Bissell said. Bissell is also advising people to get their flu shots to avoid overcrowding in area hospitals.

Hospital visits caused by unintentional drug overdoses nearly doubled in the New River Valley in August. “The social isolation caused by the pandemic, I think, has made it difficult for some people to cope,” said Mike Wade, the Community Wellness Coordinator with New River Valley Community Services. Drug overdoses in Southwest Virginia are up 11% since the start of 2020, according to the Virginia Department of Health. New River Health District Director Dr. Noelle Bissell said drugs are also starting to reach a younger age group in the area. “Especially concerning was in our younger demographic, our 0 to 14 age group and our 15 to 19 age group.

RADFORD, Va – As the number of active COVID-19 cases in the New River Valley continues to drop, the Virginia Department of Health is asking people to continue being vigilant in preventing the spread of the virus. In the last seven days, Radford University has only had two new cases, according to the university’s COVID-19 dashboard. She also said that while Radford and Virginia Tech students played a big role in COVID-19 in the New River Valley, they didn’t play the only role. “College students did spread COVID-19 in their social circles, but they didn’t spread it in the greater community. We also did find that we have spread in the community from community events,” Bissell said.

BLACKSBURG, Va. The coronavirus case count at Virginia Tech continues to grow. On Friday, the university updated its COVID-19 dashboard, announcing that from Aug. 30 to Sept. 4, 238 new positive coronavirus tests have been performed on campus. Those tests make up nearly 20% of the 966 cases performed since the last dashboard update posted Aug. 30. New River Health District director Dr. Noelle Bissell said Thursday that she expects a short-term increase in COVID-19 cases on Virginia Techs campus. Cases will start to go up, and they went up significantly, but at Radford they are starting to trail off just as significantly.

BLACKSBURG, Va. Virginia Techs president, Tim Sands, is set to have a town hall talking about the community-wide response to coronavirus. The event is set to start at 11 a.m. and go to noon. Sands will be joined by Blacksburg mayor Leslie Hager-Smith and New River Health District director Dr. Noelle Bissell. Watch below:

RADFORD, Va. 77.65%As of Friday, the city of Radford is reporting 282 total coronavirus cases. 219 of those cases, which equals 77.65%, have been reported in the past two weeks. The city reported its first case on March 26 and until Aug. 1, only added 25 additional cases. When looking at that metric, Radford has 970 cases in the past week per 100,000 residents. 1 hotspot in the country, Issaquena, Mississippi, has 3,843 cases in the past week per 100,000 residents.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. The New River Valley Health Department shared new details Tuesday about the potential impacts of COVID-19 among students. New River Health Departments Director Noelle Bissell said an increase of cases in college towns is expected as students return to classes at Radford University and Virginia Tech. Bissell said numbers are expected to rise as more testing happens and more information becomes available. There were social gatherings; there were people who were not necessarily following public health recommendations and we have seen an increase in numbers, I will say that seems to be very much improving, Bissell said. Bissell said the city of Radford may be seeing more cases than the Town of Blacksburg because students returned to Radford University before returning to Virginia Tech.

FLOYD COUNTY, Va. – Despite the Virginia Department of Health claiming someone in Floyd County has a confirmed case of the coronavirus, that is not true. The Floyd County Sheriff’s Office posted to its Facebook page on Thursday afternoon to set the record straight. VDH uses zip codes to determine people’s addresses, but this system has led to errors when mapping locations for confirmed cases. Of those 11, eight are shared between Floyd County and the surrounding areas. Even with zero confirmed cases of the virus in Floyd County, Craig said that people should still follow the proper social distancing safety protocols.

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va.- - Before you pick up that electronic device, you may want to think twice. "It may be safer, but safer isn't safe," said Bissell. According to Noelle Bissell, with the New River Valley Health District, there's a big public health investigation underway led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 'We do have one here in Southwest Virginia that went on a developed respiratory failure and was on the ventilator for several days. Bissell said with the lack of regulation in the vaping industry, it's best to avoid it all together.