Southwest Virginia Residents Urged To 'Step Up' Their Precautions

VIRGINIA — Gov. Ralph Northam urged residents in southwestern Virginia to follow the lead of the rest of the state in their social distancing and mask-wearing as the region continues to see its coronavirus numbers spike. At a news conference in Richmond on Wednesday, the governor also asked people to avoid large gatherings and take other common-sense precautions to avoid the spread of the coronavirus on Halloween.

Northam highlighted a map produced by the New York Times last week that showed Virginia among a small group of states that is not showing large increases in new coronavirus cases.

"We're lucky here in Virginia that while our case counts are trending upward in some regions, we're not seeing large increases," the governor said. "But as we all know, Virginia is a diverse state, and in our rural areas in particular, a small increase in cases can have a very large impact."

Health care systems in southwestern Virginia are seeing an increase in coronavirus cases, especially in areas just across the border from Tennessee where cases are spiking.

On Wednesday, Virginia's southwest region led the state again, with 421 new coronavirus cases reported, compared to 316 new cases in the northern region, 212 in the central region, 209 in the northwest region and 187 in the eastern region.

"During the summer, we saw a spike in the east, and we had to reinstate some restrictions in some localities to help get our numbers down," Northam said. "I'm pleased to say that worked. People took it seriously, and now the eastern region's case counts are not spiking."

In southwestern Virginia, the state's public health experts are clear, the governor said. "The spread in southwest is driven in part by small family gatherings," he said. "I strongly urge everyone in the southwest to look at these numbers and step up your precautions. I ask you also to wear face protection; we know that that works."

Most people in the state "are doing the right thing and are tired of seeing other folks disregard the rules, and disregard the health and safety of other people," Northam added.

With Halloween on Saturday, Northam reminded Virginians to take precautions. "Some favorite Halloween activities are not cut out for social distancing. Big crowds are a bad idea," he said. "We all need to keep our guard up."

As scientists have learned more about the coronavirus over the past eight months, they know now how easily it spreads through the air and how the wearing of masks helps avoid the spread of the virus. "We learn more about how these guidelines truly do help reduce the spread if we all follow them," Northam said.

Coronavirus Data Across Virginia

On Wednesday, the Virginia Department of Health reported 1,345 new coronavirus cases, bringing the cumulative case total to 176,754. There have been 12,384 hospitalizations and 3,616 deaths to date.

The southwest region's 283 current COVID-19 patients is the region's highest number so far since the start of the pandemic. Other regional hospitalizations on Wednesday included 234 in the central region, 230 in the northern region, 205 in the eastern region and 116 in the northwest region.

Across Virginia, there are 1,068 current COVID-19 patients. That includes 113 patients on ventilators and 252 in the intensive care units, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Ventilator use among all hospital patients stands at 28 percent capacity, and ICU occupancy is at 82 percent. The 2019 average for ICU occupancy in Virginia was 67 percent. No hospitals are reporting difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment or other medical supplies in the next 72 hours.

The statewide seven-day positive average of positive PCR tests remains at 5.1 percent. To date, 2,563,313 PCR tests have been completed across Virginia, an increase of 19,798 tests from Tuesday. The regional averages are 4.1 percent in the eastern region, 4.2 in the northwest region, 4.7 percent in the northern region, 5.1 percent in the central region, and 8.1 percent in the southwest region.

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

• Alexandria: 4,269 cases, 325 hospitalizations, 74 deaths; increase of 21 cases
• Arlington County: 4,630 cases, 538 hospitalizations, 154 deaths; increase of 44 cases and two hospitalizations
• Fairfax County: 24,648 cases, 2,266 hospitalizations, 605 deaths; increase of 114 cases and eight hospitalizations
• Fairfax City: 159 cases, 14 hospitalizations, eight deaths; one case removed
• Falls Church: 75 cases, 13 hospitalizations, seven deaths; no changes
• Loudoun County: 7,876 cases, 479 hospitalizations, 130 deaths; increase of 59 cases and one hospitalization
• Manassas: 2,045 cases, 132 hospitalizations, 27 deaths; increase of two cases
• Manassas Park: 648 cases, 58 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of four cases and one hospitalization
• Prince William County: 14,235 cases, 995 hospitalizations, 223 deaths; increase of 73 cases and four hospitalizations
• Fredericksburg: 588 cases, 51 hospitalizations, six deaths; one case removed
• Spotsylvania County: 2,450 cases, 154 hospitalizations, 54 deaths; increase of 18 cases and three deaths
• Stafford County: 2,373 cases, 168 hospitalizations, 21 deaths; increase of 32 cases and one death

SEE ALSO:

• VA Governor Credits Lack Of Spread Among Staff To Mask-Wearing
• Virginia Alerts Doctors Of Potential Vaccine As Early As Nov. 1
• Halloween Precautions In Virginia As New Coronavirus Cases Double
• New Data On Community Transmission By Region Provided In Virginia
• Governor Northam, First Lady Test Positive For Coronavirus
• Virginia Coronavirus Infections Estimated With Antibody Study
• NoVA Leaders Encourage Flu Shots Amid Pandemic, Flu Double Threat
• Virginia Health Commissioner Plans To Mandate Coronavirus Vaccine