Virginia Coronavirus Update: 4,013 Additional Cases Reported

VIRGINIA — An additional 4,013 coronavirus cases were reported Thursday by the Virginia Department of Health after the daily case average rose above 6,000 earlier in the week.

The seven-day average of cases has jumped in the last few days, largely due to three days of the highest daily totals for Virginia — 6,757 on Saturday, Jan. 16, 9,914 on Sunday, Jan. 17, and 7,245 on Monday, Jan. 18. Sunday's record-high number was driven a spike in two counties: 1,485 new cases in Fairfax County and 1,356 in Prince William County.

On some days, the eastern region has surpassed Northern Virginia for the most cases. Thursday's new cases by region include 1,268 in the eastern region, 684 in the northern region, 641 in the central region, 582 in the northwest region, and 838 in the southwest region.

Current COVID-19 hospitalizations are slightly down but remain higher than any total in previous months. As of Thursday, there are 3,011 patients, including 545 in the intensive care units and 337 on ventilators. COVID-19 hospitalizations by region include 701 in the central region, 750 in the eastern region, 596 in the northern region, 515 in the southwest region, and 446 in the northwest region.

The positive rate of tests is on the decline while total daily testing encounters have increased to an average over 30,000 in the new year. As of Jan. 17, the seven-day average is 13.2 percent. It has been decreasing since surpassing 17 percent in the early days of 2021. The average of daily testing encounters (both positive and negative) is 5,574. The eastern region leads with a positive average of 17.4 percent, followed by the southwest region with 14.6 percent, northern region with 12.7 percent, central region with 11.6 percent and northwest region with 10.6 percent.

As the United States surpassed 400,000 deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday, Virginia accounts for 5,940 as of Thursday. There were 63 new deaths reported in the last day. The age group breakdown of deaths to date is 2,949 for ages 80 and up; 1,527 for the 70s; 902 for the 60s; 372 for the 50s; 118 for the 40s; 47 for the 30s; 11 for the 20s, and one for the 10s.

Virginia is more than a month into COVID-19 vaccinations for its first priority groups and averages 19,567 doses administered per day. As of Thursday, 354,243 people have had at least one dose and 45,074 are fully vaccinated in Virginia. To date, 959,550 doses have been distributed in Virginia. VDH cautions that vaccine administrations may take up to 72 hours to be reported.

Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines require two doses, with the second dose taken three to four weeks after the first. Eligible groups in phases 1a and 1b should seek information on vaccinations in their local health district.

Below are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area from Tuesday to Wednesday:

• Alexandria: 8,917 cases, 482 hospitalizations, 97 deaths; increase of 46 cases, five hospitalizations, and one death
• Arlington County: 10,954 cases, 712 hospitalizations, 195 deaths; increase of 41 cases, two hospitalizations and three deaths
• Fairfax County: 55,595 cases, 3,163 hospitalizations, 742 deaths; increase of 290 cases, eight hospitalizations and four deaths
• Fairfax City: 380 cases, 27 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; increase of one case, one hospitalizan
• Falls Church: 247 cases, 18 hospitalization, six deaths; increase of two cases
• Loudoun County: 17,571 cases, 715 hospitalizations, 171 deaths; increase of 182 cases, 16 hospitalizations, and one death
• Manassas: 3,475 cases, 151 hospitalizations, 30 deaths; increase of nine cases
• Manassas Park: 1,045 cases, 66 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of two cases
• Prince William County: 32,591 cases, 1,284 hospitalizations, 282 deaths; increase of 111 cases, three hospitalizations, and one death
• Fredericksburg: 1,351 cases, 71 hospitalizations, 14 deaths; increase of 19 cases, two hospitalizations, and one death
• Spotsylvania County: 6,396 cases, 234 hospitalizations, 75 deaths; increase of 48 cases and one hospitalization
• Stafford County: 6,992 cases, 257 hospitalizations, 36 deaths; increase of 44 cases, two hospitalizations and seven deaths