New Cases Fall Slightly In Virginia As Tests Slow During Holiday

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Health reported 1,544 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday and 15 new deaths of people with COVID-19. The seven-day average of positive cases is 2,455, down from 2,588 cases reported on Thanksgiving.

Northern Virginia continues to lead the state's regions in average daily new coronavirus cases. On Friday, the region had 366 new cases and a seven-day average of 752.1. In other regions of Virginia, 434 new cases were reported in the southwest (548.3 average), 315 in the eastern region (409.7 average), 235 in the northwest region (383.1 average) and 194 in the central region (351.4 average), according to the VDH.

Virginia's seven-day positive average of PCR tests is 7.3 percent. Averages by region are 10.1 percent in the southwest region, 7.7 percent in the northern region, 7.4 percent in the eastern region, 5.7 percent in the northwest region and 5.7 percent in the central region.

The current statewide hospitalizations stand at 1,593 with a seven-day average of 1,532.4. The peak average had been 1,573.3 on May 12.

By region, COVID-19 hospitalization as of Friday stand at 429 in the northern region, 342 in the southwest region, 310 in the central region, 282 in the eastern region, and 230 in the northwest region.

According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, the 1,549 current COVID-19 patients include 160 on ventilators and 373 in the intensive care units. Ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 27 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 72 percent.

There are no hospitals reporting difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment or other medical supplies in the next 72 hours. The last time PPE difficulties were reported was Sept. 18.

The VDH reported only 5,849 testing encounters on Thursday. Reported numbers of test results and cases are expected to fall some over the holiday weekend before increasing next week.

Below are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area for Friday, Nov. 27:

• Alexandria: 5,222 cases, 354 hospitalizations, 77 deaths
• Arlington County: 6,117 cases, 577 hospitalizations, 157 deaths
• Fairfax County: 29,954 cases, 2,510 hospitalizations, 623 deaths
• Fairfax City: 209 cases, 18 hospitalizations, nine deaths
• Falls Church: 97 cases, 14 hospitalizations, seven deaths
• Loudoun County: 9,872 cases, 555 hospitalizations, 142 deaths
• Manassas: 2,273 cases, 137 hospitalizations, 28 deaths
• Manassas Park: 721 cases, 61 hospitalizations, eight deaths
• Prince William County: 17,863 cases, 1,078 hospitalizations, 236 deaths
• Fredericksburg: 692 cases, 57 hospitalizations, six deaths
• Spotsylvania County: 3,067 cases, 178 hospitalizations, 57 deaths
• Stafford County: 3,215 cases, 195 hospitalizations, 22 deaths

SEE ALSO: First Vaccines In VA To Be For Health Care, Critical Workers