Positive Coronavirus Cases In Virginia Near 20,000

VIRGINIA — Virginia has increased its testing capability over the past week. The state also has changed the methodology it uses to count the number of people tested, which led to a big increase in the testing count on Friday. With the increase in testing has come a higher number of reported positive cases of the coronavirus.

As the positive cases increase, the number of patients in Virginia on ventilators due to COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the new coronavirus, continues to decrease. On Monday, 192 COVID-19 patients were using ventilators, down from 193 patients using ventilators Friday and 208 using ventilators last Thursday, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

As of Monday morning, 821 additional cases of the new coronavirus and 24 more deaths were reported by the Virginia Department of Health. The latest totals are 19,492 positive cases, 684 deaths and 2,700 hospitalizations. On Sunday, the VDH reported 44 new deaths compared to Saturday's count.

On Monday, Virginia health officials reported an increase of 3,723 in the number of coronavirus tests conducted in the state. As of Monday, 122,788 people in Virginia have been tested for the virus compared to 119,065 on Sunday.

State officials announced a change in the methodology of reporting testing Friday, which could explain a 14,805 increase from Thursday to Friday. State Health Commissioner Norm Oliver said that before the change, a COVID-19 patient tested multiple times was counted one time. Now the state is counting each time the person gets tested for the coronavirus.

Virginia also has created a new interactive map where residents can enter their zip code to find the nearest testing site.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Friday he will provide a clearer picture Monday of when Virginia can start the first reopening phase. He previously stated the first phase could begin no sooner than May 8 but hasn't confirmed an exact date.

His criteria for the first phase includes the percentage of positive tests and hospitalizations trending down for 14 days, increased testing and contact tracing, sufficient hospital beds and intensive care capacity, and sustained supply of personal protective equipment. This phase will see continued social distancing, teleworking, limits on travel and public gatherings, and recommended use of face coverings.

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Hospitals across the state also are gearing up to resume elective surgeries and procedures. Mary Washington Healthcare, for example, resumed scheduled surgeries and procedures Monday, a decision that aligns with Northam's announcement last week that scheduled medical procedures will be allowed to start up again effective May 1.

The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association is providing daily data on the status of hospitalized patients and resource use. As of Monday, 1,463 patients with pending or confirmed new coronavirus test results are currently hospitalized. There have been 2,547 COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals as of Monday.

Among Virginia patients with confirmed or pending test results, 348 are in the intensive care unit compared to 373 last Thursday. Overall, 593 of available 2,938 ventilators are in use at hospitals, representing 20 percent use of ventilators in Virginia.

No hospitals in the state are reporting having difficulty obtaining or replenishing personal protective equipment or are reporting difficulty obtaining medical supplies, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Here are the latest updates for localities in our Northern Virginia coverage area, as of Monday.

• Alexandria: 940 cases, 110 hospitalizations, 26 deaths
• Arlington County: 1,139 cases, 194 hospitalizations, 47 deaths
• Fairfax County: 4,615 cases, 771 hospitalizations, 198 deaths
• Fairfax City: 33 cases, five hospitalizations, two deaths
• Falls Church: 36 cases, eight hospitalizations, four deaths
• Loudoun County: 961 cases, 96 hospitalizations, 18 deaths
• Manassas: 273 cases, 33 hospitalizations, one death
• Manassas Park: 88 cases, 11 hospitalizations, two deaths
• Prince William County: 2,146 cases, 222 hospitalizations, 32 deaths
• Fredericksburg: 45 cases, eight hospitalizations, no deaths
• Spotsylvania County: 288 cases, 47 hospitalizations, four deaths
• Stafford County: 240 cases, 44 hospitalizations, two deaths

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