VA Coronavirus Totals: 8,053 Confirmed Cases, 258 Deaths

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Health Department on Saturday reported 27 more coronavirus deaths and 562 new cases, bringing the state's death toll to 258 and the total number of cases to 8,053.

Heath officials say they expect the numbers to go up as more tests become available.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 and has since infected more than 2,273,900 people and killed more than 156,000 around the world, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University.

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Virginia reported its first coronavirus case on March 7. As of Saturday morning, 43,878 people have tested negative for the disease and 1,296 have been hospitalized.

Compared to the state's other jurisdictions, Fairfax County has the highest number of confirmed cases. The total: 1,633.

Second on the list is Prince William County, with 700 positive infections.

Henrico County is next with 559 confirmed cases, followed by Arlington County with 520 cases, and Loudoun County with 413 cases.

Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday extended his shutdown order for certain non-essential businesses, which initially was set to expire April 23, until May 8. A separate stay-at-home order for Virginia residents is in effect through June 10.

Based on data modeling and information from hospitals, the current social distancing measures and other actions are working to prevent major spikes in cases of the coronavirus, Northam said Wednesday at his coronavirus press briefing. Because the state's actions appear to be "flattening the curve" of coronavirus cases, the governor said now is not the time to lift any of the restrictions implemented over the past month.

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