Virginia Press Releases Department of Health - State, County and Town 2025-2026

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Virginia Department of Health
October 10, 2025

Health Advisories and Alerts are significant public health notices intended for healthcare providers. Please review and share within your practice widely.

• A Health Alert conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.
• A Health Advisory provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.

Updated Exclusion Guidance for Healthcare Personnel with COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza


October 10, 2025
Health Advisory

Summary

• The Virginia Department of Health issued updated recommendations for exclusion of healthcare personnel (HCP) who test positive or have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or influenza.
  • HCP are those who provide direct healthcare services or who work in a location where healthcare is provided, including both clinical and support staff.
• The changes reduce the isolation period for COVID-19, remove return to work testing requirements, and align guidance for COVID-19 and influenza.
• The full recommendations can be found in the VDH health care provider guidelines (PDF).

Suggested Actions

• Healthcare providers and facilities should update HCP exclusion and return to work guidance for COVID-19 and influenza consistent with the new VDH recommendations (linked above and summarized in the ADDITIONAL INFORMATION section of this Advisory).
• Apply the updated guidance to HCP who test positive, HCP who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or seasonal influenza who have not been tested, and HCP with known exposures to either virus.

Additional information

• Updated VDH guidance for exclusion of HCP with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 or influenza are provided below. Note that the day of symptom onset or of a positive test is defined as day 0.
  • Infected (test positive) and Asymptomatic:
    • Exclude for 3 days from the first positive test.
    • Can return on day 4 if a facemask is worn for source control in all patient care and common areas of the facility through day 7, if not already wearing a facemask as part of universal source control masking.
  • Infected (test positive or with compatible symptoms) with Mild to Moderate Illness:
    • Exclude for 3 days from symptom onset*
    • Can return on day 4 if ALL of the following criteria are met:
      • At least 24 hours have passed with no fever (without using fever-reducing meds)
      • Symptoms are improving
      • They feel well enough to return to work
      • A facemask is worn for source control in all patient care and common areas of the facility for at least 7 days, if not already wearing a facemask as part of universal source control masking.
        *Facilities may consider temporary reassignment or exclusion of HCP from the care of patients/residents at highest risk of severe disease, including those with moderate or severe immunocompromising conditions. This reassignment is indicated for 7-10 days after symptom onset or until symptom resolution, whichever is longer.
• For HCP with severe or critical illness or who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, follow CDC guidance on COVID-19 risk assessment and infection control for healthcare personnel.
  • Exposed and Asymptomatic (who have not tested positive):
    • Wear a facemask for source control in all patient care and common areas of the facility for at least 5 days after the exposure. *
    • Monitor for symptoms for 5 days after last exposure. Any HCP who develops signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or influenza should be restricted from work as described above.
      *Work restrictions may be considered if HCP are unable to wear source control, are moderately to severely immunocompromised, care for or work on a unit with patients who are moderately to severely immunocompromised or work on a unit experiencing ongoing COVID-19 transmission that is not controlled with initial interventions.
• Current respiratory disease activity in Fairfax County, including COVID-19 and influenza diagnoses at emergency departments and urgent care centers, is displayed on the Fairfax County Health Department’s Respiratory Illness Dashboard. The dashboard is updated each week on Tuesdays.

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/alerts

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Richmond Dept. of Health

October 27, 2025
RHHD ENCOURAGES THE ‘LITTLE THINGS’ TO PROTECT AGAINST RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES THIS FALL


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 27, 2025
Media Contact: Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov

RHHD Encourages the ‘Little Things’ to Protect Against Respiratory Illnesses This Fall
Wash Your Hands, Cover Your Coughs and Sneezes, Get Immunized

RICHMOND, Va. – You can protect yourself and your family this fall from respiratory viruses like COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by doing some simple little things. Richmond and Henrico Health Districts share three little things for a healthy fall: washing your hands, covering your coughs and sneezes, and getting immunized.

“Immunization is the most effective way to prevent serious infections from flu, COVID-19, and RSV,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Director Elaine Perry, M.D. “It’s also important to remember basic public health prevention measures such as hand washing and covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze to reduce the chances of spreading all respiratory viruses.”

Washing Hands

Washing hands takes a mere 20-30 seconds but can be key to keeping you healthy and preventing respiratory diseases. Germs can spread by touching surfaces and other people. Be sure to wash your hands:

• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Before and after preparing food or eating.
• Before and after caring for someone else who is sick.
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste

If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to clean your hands.

Covering Your Cough

Respiratory viruses can spread through droplets that are released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. To limit the spread of respiratory viruses, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Put your used tissue in the waste basket.

If you don’t have a tissue, cough into your upper sleeve or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.

Getting Immunized

Everyone aged six months and older should get a flu vaccine every year, with a few exceptions. Talk to a healthcare provider about which flu vaccines are recommended for you and your family.

People aged six months and older should receive the COVID-19 vaccine based on individual-based decision-making with a healthcare provider.

All adults aged 75 years and older are recommended to receive a single dose of one RSV vaccine. If you are 60-74 years old with a health condition, speak with your healthcare provider to decide if the RSV vaccine is the right choice for you. Pregnant women and parents of newborns should also talk with their provider about the benefits of RSV immunization.

If you are sick, stay home to prevent additional spread of respiratory virus.

For more information about how to stay healthy during respiratory illness season and all year round, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/respiratory-diseases-in-virginia/ or visit rhhd.gov. Follow RHHD on Instagram (@richmondcity_hd) and Facebook.

https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/richmond-city/2025/10/27/rhhd-encourages-the-little-things-to-protect-against-respiratory-illnesses-this-fall/

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Richmond and Henrico County

RHHD ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GET VACCINATED FOR FLU AND COVID-19
December 3, 2025

RICHMOND, Va. – With the 2025-26 respiratory virus season officially underway, Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage everyone six months and older who lives, works, or plays in our community to receive their annual flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a severe 2024-25 flu season with record high hospitalization rate in the U.S and the highest number of pediatric deaths during a regular, non-pandemic season. Last season, Virginia reported six influenza-associated pediatric deaths and 366 influenza outbreaks.

Vaccination Rates

Current local vaccination rates for flu and COVID-19 are lower than they have been in previous years. As of Dec. 2, 2025, 19.6 percent of Richmond City residents and 23.3 percent of Henrico County residents have received the 2025-2026 flu vaccine. Only 7.8 percent of Richmond City and 7.7 percent of Henrico County residents have received the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine.

By Dec. 2, 2024, 19.7 percent of Richmond City residents and 25.7 percent of Henrico County residents had received the flu vaccine. During the same time period, 10 percent of Richmond residents and 11 percent of Henrico residents had received the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Vaccines are the best tool we have for preventing infection from flu and COVID-19,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Director Elaine Perry, M.D. “Unfortunately, we are seeing fewer people get these safe and effective vaccines than in years past. Vaccines can protect you and your community from severe illness, hospitalization, and death as respiratory virus activity increases in the colder months. Just like we’ve seen with viruses like measles, more vaccinations mean reduced transmission, fewer outbreaks, and more time with friends and family.”

Where to Get Vaccines

You can get vaccinated for flu and COVID-19 at a local pharmacy or your primary care provider.

Virginia Vaccines for Children (VVFC) providers offer no-cost vaccines to children (younger than 19 years of age) who are uninsured or underinsured; Medicaid-eligible or Medicaid-enrolled; and/or American Indian or Alaska Native. Search for a VVFC provider near you by using rhhd.gov/vfc.

Virginia Vaccines for Adults (VVFA) providers offer no-cost vaccinations to adults who are uninsured or underinsured. People receiving VVFA vaccinations may be required to pay an admin fee, usually between $10 and $20. Search for a VVFA provider near you by using rhhd.gov/vfa.

Respiratory Virus Season

Flu season, the period of highest virus activity, normally begins in early October and ends in late May. While seasonal outbreaks can happen as early as October, during most seasons, activity peaks in January or February. COVID-19 spreads year-round but tends to be more common in the fall and winter.

People need flu and COVID-19 vaccines for two reasons. First, the body’s immune response from vaccination declines over time, so an annual vaccine is needed for optimal protection. Second, because these viruses are constantly changing, the formulation of these vaccines is reviewed each year and updated to target changing viruses.

As long as these viruses are circulating, it’s not too late to get your vaccines.

COVID-19 and Influenza Viruses

Influenza and COVID-19 are serious diseases caused by viruses that affects the respiratory tract. These viruses generally spread from person-to-person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These viruses can be transmitted even before symptoms appear. A person usually becomes sick with flu one to three days following exposure to the virus. A person usually becomes sick with COVID-19 two to 14 days following exposure to the virus. Typical flu symptoms include fever, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches and extreme fatigue. Typical COVID-19 symptoms include fever, chills, cough, loss of taste or smell, severe fatigue, headaches, body aches, and sore throat.

How to Protect Yourself and Others

To minimize your risk of contracting or transmitting these viruses, follow these simple steps:

• Get vaccinated.
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your cough, either by using a disposable tissue or coughing into your sleeve, not your hand.
• Stay at home when you are sick.

It is safe to get both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time. For more information, call RHHD at 804-205-3500.

Visit rhhd.gov for more health and safety information. Follow RHHD on Instagram (@richmondcity_hd) and Facebook.

https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/richmon...-and-covid-19/