New coronavirus cases in Virginia — which had been on a sharp decline in June — are ticking upward, fueled by stagnant vaccination rates and the rise of the highly contagious delta variant.
Here are answers to some common questions.
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Are coronavirus cases going down in Virginia?
No. You can follow the trends on The Washington Post’s tracker.
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How many people in Virginia have been vaccinated so far?
The Virginia Department of Health’s website has information on how many Virginians have received a vaccine.
I haven’t gotten vaccinated yet — do I still need an appointment?
No. Most vaccination sites are accepting walk-ups. Virginians can enter their address to find the nearest location offering shots here.
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That includes clinics run by health districts and health-district partnerships with hospitals, Federal Emergency Management Agency-funded community vaccination centers — such as ones in Tysons Corner and Prince William County — and pharmacies.
Are there any pandemic restrictions in Virginia?
Gov. Ralph Northam (D) lifted all of the state’s limits on business capacity, masking requirements and social distancing restrictions on May 28.
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Is the state offering incentives for people to get the vaccine?
The state is not offering incentives, unlike neighboring D.C. and Maryland, which are running lotteries to encourage people to get vaccinated.
Will I need a booster shot — and if so, how can I get one?
This is still not immediately clear. Vaccine developers such as Pfizer have said people will “likely” need a booster shot within 12 months of being vaccinated, but this has not been confirmed by federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read about the latest scientific updates from The Post’s Health Section.
Who can go maskless?
There is no mask mandate in Virginia. However, the CDC now recommends that both vaccinated and unvaccinated people wear masks indoors in areas with high coronavirus transmission. So far, in the Washington region, D.C., the city of Alexandria, and Loudoun County, Va., all are listed as having substantial or high community transmission.
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Northam has said while he recommends everyone wear a mask indoors in public settings, he is not requiring it.
How I be sure someone is fully vaccinated?
Virginia has no plans to require a “vaccine passport” or any proof that someone has received the shots. “Anyone who is not vaccinated is strongly encouraged to wear masks in all settings,” Northam spokeswoman Alena Yarmosky said.
Who still has to wear a mask?
Businesses can require mask-wearing by customers and employees. The state is urging all elementary school students, staff and faculty to wear masks, while middle and high school students, staff and teachers are being asked to wear masks indoors if they are not fully vaccinated.
Virginia urges all elementary-schoolers, some middle- and high-schoolers, to wear masks indoors this fall
Rebecca Tan contributed to this report.