Free community testing for COVID- 19 continues.

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

Tuesday, Dec. 29, noon to 2 p.m., The Diamond parking lot, 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. Drive-thru testing.

Appointments are encouraged by calling the Richmond and Henrico COVID-19 Hotline at (804) 205-3501 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Testing will be offered while test supplies last.

The Chesterfield County Health Department also is offering free COVID-19 testing at the following locations:

Second Baptist Church, 5100 W. Hundred Road, Chester, 1 to 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28.

Walmsley Boulevard United Methodist Church, 2950 Walmsley Blvd., 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Dec. 29; and 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Dec. 31.

St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, 4400 Beulah Road, 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 30. Faith and Family Center, 7900 Walmsley Blvd., 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31.

Testing is encouraged for those who have COVID-19 symptoms.

The testing is free, and no reservations are necessary. Details: Chesterfield County Health Department at (804) 318-8207.

Even with the roll out in the last 10 days of the Pfizer-

BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for the coronavirus, the number of cases and deaths continue to grow in the United States and across Virginia.

The United States passed the 18.3 million mark in cases on Wednesday, with 323,000 deaths. Records also were set Tuesday for the number of people hospitalized with COVID- 19 in the country.

The Harvard Global Health Institute and the Brown School of Public Health said Virginia and 47 other states are at a “tipping point” when it comes to the potential risk of the virus, with stay-at-home orders considered not just advisable, but necessary to stem the spread.

The Virginia Department of Health reported on Wednesday 4,652 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the cumulative total to 319,133 positive cases of COVID-19 statewide, along with 17,271 hospitalizations and 4,760 deaths.

According to Virginia data, African-Americans comprised 21.6 percent of cases and 25 percent of deaths for which ethnic and racial data is available, while Latinos made up 21.7 percent of the cases and 8.2 percent of deaths.

Locally, as of Wednesday, 8,525 cases, 544 hospitalizations and 91 deaths were reported in Richmond; 11,257 cases, 188 hospitalizations and 285 deaths were reported in Henrico; and 12,702 cases, 584 hospitalizations and 161 deaths were reported in Chesterfield.

Henrico County officials reported that 20 Henrico firefighters in six fire houses have been affected. Seven firefighters have tested positive for the coronavirus and are isolated at their homes. Another 13 are in quarantine after close contact but testing negative.

Henrico Fire Chief Alec Oughton said service in the county shouldn’t be impacted.