NoVA Coronavirus Cases Remain Steady; Hampton Roads Sees Spike

VIRGINIA — With the long Independence Day holiday weekend approaching, Virginia health officials are urging residents to remain cautious about the coronavirus, especially if they plan to attend Fourth of July gatherings.

The Virginia Department of Health on Thursday reported 532 additional cases of the coronavirus and 30 deaths across the state. Statewide, the cumulative numbers stand at 63,735 cases, 6,333 hospitalizations and 1,816 deaths.

The 7-day positive rate of tests continues to climb. The rate reached 6.2 percent on Sunday, the most recent data provided by the VDH. On Saturday, the positive rate was 6.1 percent. The positive rates are up after reaching a low of 5.8 percent on June 23 and 24. There have been 671,560 nasal swab tests conducted in Virginia, an increase of 15,602 from Wednesday.

In preparation for the July 4 holiday, the Virginia Department of Health issued a news release that stated "larger increases can occur following close gatherings of crowds, travel to COVID-19 hot spots, and simply due to people in close contact in smaller groups and not wearing masks."

As phase three was set to start in Virginia on Wednesday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam also ordered bar seating and congregating areas of restaurants to remain closed to help limit the chance of customers gathering without social distancing.

The face mask requirement at indoor public places continues, and "safer at home" guidance continues, particularly for those at higher risk from the virus. The full list of guidelines for phase three is available at www.virginia.gov/coronavirus/forwardvirginia.

According to Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, 888 people with confirmed or pending coronavirus test results were hospitalized as of Thursday, down from 892 on Wednesday. This includes 206 COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit and 95 on ventilators. There are 664 of 3,020 ventilators in use by all hospital patients, representing 22 percent use. A total of 8,496 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals.

Coronavirus outbreaks continue to pop up across the state. The VDH has reported 465 outbreaks, with 242 of them at long-term care facilities. Of the 1,816 deaths in Virginia from the coronavirus, 1,099 of them have been people who lived at long-term care facilities.

While Northern Virginia is reporting far fewer cases and deaths related to the coronavirus from its peak more than a month ago, Hampton Roads is seeing record-breaking numbers. On Thursday, the region added 147 new cases, breaking a one-day day record of 144 set on June 26.

Hampton Roads is now averaging more than 115 new cases daily, about 50 cases higher than earlier high points in the coronavirus cases. Norfolk, for example, saw an increase of 53 new cases reported Thursday, nearly 20 cases higher than its previous one-day record of 34 set three days ago. The city's percent of positive cases is back up to nearly 9 percent, a number not seen since May 24.

Here are the latest coronavirus updates for our Virginia Patch coverage areas:

• Alexandria: 2,327 cases, 237 hospitalizations, 57 deaths; increase of two cases.
• Arlington County: 2,484 cases, 418 hospitalizations, 132 deaths; increase of 12 cases and three hospitalizations.
• Fairfax County: 13,886 cases, 1,640 hospitalizations, 492 deaths, increase of 22 cases, 18 hospitalizations and four deaths.
• Fairfax City: 71 cases, seven hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of one case.
• Falls Church: 53 cases, 11 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of one case.
• Loudoun County: 4,083 cases, 278 hospitalizations, 89 deaths; increase of 36 cases, one less hospitalization and two new deaths.
• Manassas: 1,417 cases, 101 hospitalizations, 18 deaths; increase of three cases and three hospitalization.
• Manassas Park: 431 cases, 46 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of one case.
• Prince William County: 7,390 cases, 664 hospitalizations, 143 deaths; increase of 59 cases and five hospitalizations but decrease of one death.
• Fredericksburg: 250 cases, 25 hospitalizations, no deaths; increase of one case and one hospitalization.
• Spotsylvania County: 1,001 cases, 77 hospitalizations, 31 deaths; increase of seven cases, two hospitalizations and one death.
• Stafford County: 1,000 cases, 92 hospitalizations, five deaths; increase of 10 cases.

SEE ALSO:

• 416 New Cases As VA's Phase 3 Starts, Caution Urged For July 4
• New Coronavirus Cases In Virginia Creep Up On Eve Of Phase 3
• How Should Virginia Schools Reopen This Fall? Take Patch's Survey