1K New Virginia Coronavirus Cases, Positive Rate Above 7 Percent

VIRGINIA — An additional 1,084 coronavirus cases were reported in Virginia Wednesday, as the Hampton Roads region emerges as the state's epicenter in place of Northern Virginia. The latest cumulative totals are 73,527 cases, 6,905 hospitalizations, and 1,992 deaths.

The 1,084 new cases represented the highest total since June 7, when 1,284 new cases were reported. The 7-day moving average of positive tests is above 7 percent after staying in the 5-percent or 6-percent range since mid-June. The statewide 7.2 percent average is based on nasal swab tests only. In all, 842,124 nasal swab tests have been completed in Virginia, an increase of 14,107 tests since Tuesday.

Hampton Roads' seven major cities collectively had 464 new cases. This includes 144 in Virginia Beach, 136 in Norfolk, 62 in Chesapeake, 44 in Newport News, 33 in Portsmouth, 24 in Hampton and 21 in Suffolk.

Northern Virginia, representing about two-third of the state's population, accounted for just 241 of the state's 1,084 new cases on Wednesday. The region had seven additional deaths reported after two straight days without new deaths. Those new deaths were reported in Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Prince William County, while Alexandria hasn't reported a new death since June 26.

Current hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients are down after increases in recent days. According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, 1,081 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized as of Wednesday, down from 1,127 on Tuesday. Hospitalizations are back in the 1,000s after falling below that level between June 14 and July 9. A total of 9,527 coronavirus patients have been discharged from Virginia hospitals, up from 9,423 on Tuesday.

The hospitalized patients include 113 on ventilators and 246 in the intensive care units. There are 664 of 3,055 available ventilators in use by all hospital patients, or 22 percent. No hospitals are having difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment or other medical supplies.

Gov. Ralph Northam said Tuesday enforcement of the face mask requirement and physical distancing requirements at businesses will be ramped up statewide with a focus on the Hampton Roads region. Inspectors will make unannounced visits to restaurants and other gathering establishments to check compliance.

The governor said Virginia as a whole as avoided a coronavirus spike seen in other U.S. states. He shared an update on cases in different regions on the state. He noted stable or minimal increases in most regions, while the eastern region that includes Hampton Roads has a recent spike.

Here are the latest case updates for our coverage areas as of Wednesday, compared with Tuesday's data:

• Alexandria: 2,486 cases, 253 hospitalizations, 57 deaths; increase of 21 cases and three hospitalizations
• Arlington County: 2,677 cases, 422 hospitalizations, 134 deaths; increase of 17 cases
• Fairfax County: 14,653 cases, 1,753 hospitalizations, 502 deaths; increase of 79 cases, 30 hospitalizations and two deaths
• Fairfax City: 74 cases, six hospitalizations, seven deaths; no change
• Falls Church: 54 cases, 10 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of one case
• Loudoun County: 4,519 cases, 301 hospitalizations, 101 deaths; increase of 61 cases, five hospitalizations and two deaths
• Manassas: 1,497 cases, 107 hospitalizations, 19 deaths; increase of three cases
• Manassas Park: 463 cases, 47 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of two cases
• Prince William County: 7,947 cases, 715 hospitalizations, 160 deaths; increase of 57 cases, five hospitalizations and three deaths
• Fredericksburg: 288 cases, 28 hospitalizations, no deaths; increase of one case
• Spotsylvania County: 1,094 cases, 84 hospitalizations, 32 deaths; increase of six cases
• Stafford County: 1,085 cases, 108 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of 10 cases and two hospitalizations

SEE ALSO:

• Northam Urges Compliance With Rules Amid Hampton Roads Case Spike
• NoVA Goes 2 Straight Days Without New Reported Coronavirus Death