Ventilator Use For Virginia Coronavirus Patients Steadily Falling

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Health confirmed 487 additional cases of the coronavirus and 19 new deaths Tuesday. The latest cumulative totals are 51,738 cases, 5,203 hospitalizations and 1,496 deaths.

The seven-day average for percent of positive test results was at 8.9 percent as of Saturday, which is the most recent figure provided by the Virginia Department of Health on Tuesday. The percent positive figure is down from a peak of 22.2 percent on April 19.

Coronavirus hospitalizations are near the lowest level since the data became available in mid-April. On Tuesday, there were 1,169 hospitalized patients with confirmed or pending coronavirus test results, a slight drop from 1,173 reported Monday, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

On Tuesday, 6,677 COVID-19 patients had been discharged from hospitals, up from 6,557 COVID-19 patient who had been discharged from hospitals as of Monday.

There are 155 COVID-19 patients using ventilators as of Tuesday, down from 160 on Monday. A month ago, 203 COVID-19 patients were using ventilators, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

A total of 580 ventilators are in use across the state, up from 545 on Monday. Total ventilator use among 2,989 available ventilators represents 19-percent use in Virginia. Total ventilator use has been below 20 percent for the last three days, according to association data.

Starting Tuesday, the Virginia Department of Health’s coronavirus dashboard will reflect 13,000 additional tests that were backlogged, WTVR reported. A health department spokesperson told the news station that over the next couple of days, the new information will be added to the current data, which will result in an influx of results.

The Virginia Department of Health said a Richmond-area lab had previously been faxing test results to the health department. The lab is now submitting test results electronically.

As of Tuesday, 388,480 coronavirus tests (excluding antibody tests) had been conducted on Virginians, according to the health department.

On Monday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced a temporary statewide moratorium on all housing eviction proceedings in Virginia in response to coronavirus crisis. Northam requested the moratorium in a letter sent to Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald Lemons over the weekend. The judge approved the eviction moratorium on Monday.

The temporary moratorium will halt all eviction proceedings for a period of nearly three weeks, as the Northam administration seeks to implement a relief program for Virginians facing housing issues during the crisis.

“Access to safe and stable housing is critically important, and this action will keep thousands of families in their homes as we work to get them the support they need,” Northam said Monday in a statement.

Virginia Department of Health data shows most positive coronavirus cases (80 percent) are occurring in adults between the ages of 20 and 69. The majority of deaths (76.4 percent) are among Virginians over the age of 70.

Northern Virginia jurisdictions reported 205 new cases of the coronavirus Tuesday, or 42.1 percent of the state total. Fairfax County reported 92 new cases, one of the smallest daily increases in the county over the past month.

Here are the latest cumulative case updates for our coverage areas for Tuesday:

• Alexandria: 2,115 cases, 212 hospitalizations, 47 deaths; increase of 13 cases, four hospitalizations and two deaths.
• Arlington County: 2,265 cases, 395 hospitalizations, 122 deaths; increase of nine cases and three hospitalizations.
• Fairfax County: 12,953 cases, 1,437 hospitalizations, 416 deaths; increase of 92 cases, six hospitalizations and two deaths.
• Fairfax City: 69 cases, seven hospitalizations, five deaths; no changes.
• Falls Church: 56 cases, 11 hospitalizations, eight deaths; no changes.
• Loudoun County: 3,174 cases, 185 hospitalizations, 67 deaths; increase of 27 cases and four hospitalizations.
• Manassas: 1,254 cases, 78 hospitalizations, 11 deaths; increase of six cases and one hospitalization.
• Manassas Park: 359 cases, 37 hospitalizations, six deaths; no changes.
• Prince William County: 6,336 cases, 544 hospitalizations, 119 deaths; increase of 58 cases and one death.
• Fredericksburg: 193 cases, 23 hospitalizations, no deaths; decrease of three cases and increase of one hospitalization.
• Spotsylvania County: 712 cases, 50 hospitalizations, nine deaths; increase of five cases, three hospitalizations and two deaths.
• Stafford County: 824 cases, 84 hospitalizations, five deaths; increase of nine cases.

SEE ALSO:

• 1.3K Coronavirus Recoveries Reported In Virginia Nursing Homes
• Virginia Phase 2 Reopening Planned; Delay For NoVA, Richmond
• VA Coronavirus Hospitalizations Hit Lowest Level Since Mid-April