Northam Loses Sense Of Smell From Coronavirus; VA Rate Below 5%

VIRGINIA — The seven-day positive rate for the coronavirus in Virginia remains below 5 percent, a trend that Gov. Ralph Northam said Monday is "really good." Statewide, the positive average is at 4.8 percent, and 2,139,991 PCR tests have been completed as of Monday, up 12,587 tests from Sunday.

The Virginia Department of Health reported 687 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday after a weekend when new cases climbed above 1,000 on each day. The seven-day average of new cases has been below 1,000 since Sept. 18 and now stands at 852.

As of Monday, the cumulative numbers of the COVID-19 pandemic in Virginia stand at 152,557 cases, 11,259 hospitalizations and 3,279 deaths.

"Our COVID-19 numbers continue to do well," Northam said Monday in a video released on Twitter. "But we want to continue to be vigilant and cautious as we move forward."

Northam and his wife Pamela were notified on Sept. 24 that they had tested positive for the coronavirus. They are isolating in the governor's mansion in Richmond.

In the video, Northam said he developed cold-like symptoms over the weekend and lost his sense of smell. Otherwise, Northam said he and his wife are doing well and are in good spirits.

On Monday, the northwest region led the state Monday with 254 new cases of the coronavirus, followed by the northern region with 146 cases, eastern region with 140, central region with 124 and southwest region with 124.

Data on positive rates of tests shows Northern Virginia still has the lowest average. The seven-day averages of PCR tests by region are 6.2 percent in the southwest region, 5 percent in the northwest region, 4.6 percent in the eastern region, 4.6 percent in the central region and 4.2 percent in the northern region. Statewide, the positive average is 4.8 percent and 2,139,991 PCR tests have been completed, up 12,587 tests from Sunday.

Looking at VDH's new Pandemic Metrics dashboard, Northern Virginia's community transmission extent for the week ending on Oct. 3 was low with a decreasing trend. In the near southwest region, the community transmission is considered "substantial." The far southwest, central, northwest and eastern regions have moderate community transmission, with the central and eastern regions showing a downward trend, according to the weekly data.

COVID-19 hospitalizations stand at 925 statewide as of Monday. That includes 239 in the central region, 223 in the eastern region, 183 in the northern region, 170 in the southwest region, and 101 in the northwest region. According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, 17,893 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals.

The current hospitalizations, as of Monday, include 213 in the intensive care units and 101 on ventilators. Ventilator use stands at 19 percent among all Virginia hospital patients, and ICU occupancy is at 79 percent. There are no hospitals reporting difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment in the next 72 hours.

Here are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area between Saturday and Sunday:

• Alexandria: 3,927 cases, 327 hospitalizations, 70 deaths; increase of 15 cases and one hospitalization
• Arlington County: 4,057 cases, 507 hospitalizations, 152 deaths; increase of 12 cases, two hospitalizations and one death
• Fairfax County: 21,357 cases, 2,179 hospitalizations, 590 deaths; increase of 75 cases and one hospitalization
• Fairfax City: 139 cases, 14 hospitalizations, eight deaths; no changes
• Falls Church: 72 cases, 13 hospitalizations, seven deaths; no changes
• Loudoun County: 6,987 cases, 437 hospitalizations, 126 deaths; increase of two cases
• Manassas: 1,950 cases, 130 hospitalizations, 24 deaths; increase of three cases
• Manassas Park: 616 cases, 55 hospitalizations, eight deaths; no changes
• Prince William County: 12,783 cases, 928 hospitalizations, 208 deaths; increase of 39 cases and four hospitalizations; one death removed
• Fredericksburg: 553 cases, 49 hospitalizations, five deaths; increase of one case
• Spotsylvania County: 2,191 cases, 136 hospitalizations, 46 deaths; increase of four cases
• Stafford County: 2,072 cases, 161 hospitalizations, 18 deaths; increase of seven cases and one death

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