VA's Coronavirus Average Drops below 1K For First Time In 2 Weeks

VIRGINIA — Virginia health officials reported 818 new coronavirus cases Thursday, slightly higher than the total reported Wednesday but lower than the more than 1,000 daily cases reported in recent weeks. In the state, 25 new deaths were reported, bringing the total number of people who have died from COVID-19 in the state to 2,299, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

The latest 7-day average of new cases in Virginia dropped below 1,000 to 995 on Thursday. It is the first time in two weeks that the 7-day average of new cases has been below 1,000. On July 24, the 7-day average of new cases was 990.

The Southwest region of the state has seen a recent surge in cases, with the region reporting 197 new cases Thursday, the highest of any region in Virginia. The 7-day average of new cases in the region is 168.9 cases.

The Central region was next with 184 new cases Thursday, followed by the Eastern region with 175 new cases, the Northern region with 162 and the Northwest region with 100.

On Thursday, Hampton Roads reported its lowest daily increase in coronavirus cases in a month. The Eastern's region's 175 cases was almost 200 cases below the region's 7-day average of 362 cases.

Northern Virginia's 162 new cases Thursday represented 19.8 percent of the total number of new cases in the state.

As of Thursday, 1,191,304 PCR tests have been completed in Virginia, an increase of 15,124 from Wednesday.

Hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients increased from 1,304 to 1,349 across Virginia on Thursday, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

The COVID-19 hospitalizations include 157 on ventilators and 284 in the intensive care units, according to Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association data. Among all hospital patients, ventilator use stands at 20 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 78 percent. The 2019 average for ICU occupancy was 67 percent. No hospitals are reporting difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment or other medical supplies in the next 72 hours.

Earlier in the week, Virginia and five other states announced they are joining a consortium to purchase 3 million rapid antigen tests that can detect the virus in 20 minutes or less. Northam said quick test results are critical to being able to reduce the spread of the virus and relax social distancing guidelines.

"This is another way that the states are leading America's national response to COVID-19," Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Wednesday at a news conference in Richmond.

Here are the latest case updates for our coverage areas from Wednesday to Thursday:

• Alexandria: 2,887 cases, 274 hospitalizations, 60 deaths; increase of 15 cases.
• Arlington County: 3,013 cases, 436 hospitalizations, 135 deaths; increase of 16 cases.
• Fairfax County: 16,087 cases, 1,913 hospitalizations, 527 deaths; increase of 68 cases and eight hospitalizations. Decrease of three deaths.
• Fairfax City: 82 cases, 11 hospitalizations, seven deaths; decrease of one case.
• Falls Church: 60 cases, nine hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of one case and one death.
• Loudoun County: 5,150 cases, 342 hospitalizations, 115 deaths; increase of 33 cases, two hospitalizations and two deaths.
• Manassas: 1,625 cases, 120 hospitalizations, 20 deaths; increase of five cases.
• Manassas Park: 506 cases, 50 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of one case.
• Prince William County: 9,163 cases, 794 hospitalizations, 177 deaths; increase of 24 cases and two deaths.
• Fredericksburg: 388 cases, 43 hospitalizations, three deaths; increase of eight cases.
• Spotsylvania County: 1,421 cases, 95 hospitalizations, 35 deaths; increase of 31 cases and one hospitalization.
• Stafford County: 1,316 cases, 118 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of 16 cases.

SEE ALSO:

• Coronavirus Exposure Notification App Launches In Virginia
• New Daily Coronavirus Cases In Virginia Double From A Month Ago