Two more people in the Peninsula Health District have died from the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Virginia Department of Health said Wednesday.
The two women, one in her 80s and the other in her 60s, died from respiratory failure. Both tested positive for the coronavirus.
The women recently became ill and were admitted to a local hospital, where they died, health officials said.
It’s unknown how the patients contracted the virus and the Peninsula Health District is currently investigating their contacts.
The Peninsula Health District covers: Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, James City County and York County.
As of Wednesday, James City County remains to have one of the highest positive cases of coronavirus in the state at 41; Williamsburg has 5, York County, 8 and Newport News, 4, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
Virginia has 391 positive cases of coronavirus as of Wednesday.
So far, 12 people have died in Virginia — 7 in the Peninsula Health District, 2 in Henrico County, 1 in Pittsylvania-Danville, 1 in Fairfax County and 1 in Virginia Beach.
The two new deaths were not reported on the VDH website on Wednesday afternoon.
Larry Hill, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Health Eastern Region, said he couldn’t release the city where the deaths occur. While he has released this information in the past, he said it was an error and that VDH can only release the district in which the death occurs in order to protect the identity of the patient.
“I want to remind our community about how important it is to follow the recommendations being provided to protect our elderly and those with underlying conditions,” said Dr. Steve Julian, acting health director for the Peninsula. “Everyone has a responsibility to protect each other.”
The Peninsula Health District is operating a call center at 757-594-7069 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week for questions related to the coronavirus.
For more information, visit the Virginia Department of Health online.
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