Hampton Roads Drives Surge In Virginia's Coronavirus Case Count

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Health reported 922 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, below the average daily count from the past week, but still much higher than a month ago.

The smaller number of new coronavirus cases came a day after Virginia reported 1,505 new cases, the second highest daily number the state has seen since the pandemic begin. The highest daily positive coronavirus count occurred May 26 when the VDH reported 1,615 new cases.

The latest cumulative totals are 86,994 cases, 7,686 and 2,095 deaths.

The 7-day average of new cases is now 1,089, compared to 535 a month ago on June 28. While the average of new cases declined in early June and stabilized in late June, the average increased through much of July.

Over the weekend, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said he would be watching the public health data closely. “If the numbers don’t come down, we may have to take additional steps to blunt the spread of this virus,” the governor tweeted.

Northern Virginia accounted for 206, or 22.3 percent, of the state's 922 new cases on Tuesday. This included 94 in the Prince William Health District, 53 in the Fairfax Health District, 25 in Loudoun County, 20 in Arlington County and 14 in Alexandria.

The seven major cities of Hampton Roads collectively had 250 new cases on Tuesday. This included 76 in Portsmouth, 46 in Virginia Beach, 35 in Norfolk, 30 in Chesapeake, 26 in Suffolk, 22 in Hampton and 15 in Newport News.

The 7-day average of positive tests was 7.3 percent as of July 24, down from 7.5 percent on July 23. As of Tuesday, 1,056,148 nasal swab tests have been completed in Virginia, an increase of 12,128 tests from Monday.

Current hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients stand at 1,294 as of Tuesday, up from 1,200 on Monday. According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, 11,550 COVID-19 patients have been discharged, up from 10,940 on Monday.

Hospitalized patients include 261 in the intensive care units and 153 on ventilators. Ventilator use among all hospital patients stands at 21 percent, while ICU occupancy is at 78 percent. No hospitals are experiencing difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment or other medical supplies in the next 72 hours.

Here are the latest case updates for our coverage areas from Monday to Tuesday:

• Alexandria: 2,749 cases, 266 hospitalizations, 57 deaths; increase of 14 cases.
• Arlington County: 2,843 cases, 431 hospitalizations, 135 deaths; increase of 20 cases.
• Fairfax County: 15,509 cases, 1,858 hospitalizations, 519 deaths; increase of 54 cases, three hospitalizations and two deaths.
• Fairfax City: 77 cases, 10 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of one case.
• Falls Church: 53 cases, 10 hospitalizations, six deaths; decrease of two cases.
• Loudoun County: 4,939 cases, 328 hospitalizations, 108 deaths; increase of 25 cases, one hospitalization and two deaths.
• Manassas: 1,584 cases, 118 hospitalizations, 20 deaths; increase of nine cases.
• Manassas Park: 488 cases, 50 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of two cases and one hospitalization.
• Prince William County: 8,663 cases, 766 hospitalizations, 167 deaths; increase of 83 cases and two hospitalizations.
• Fredericksburg: 338 cases, 38 hospitalizations, two deaths; increase of nine cases.
• Spotsylvania County: 1,254 cases, 91 hospitalizations, 33 deaths; increase of 10 cases.
• Stafford County: 1,214 cases, 115 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of 12 cases.