Virginia's Positive Coronavirus Rate Getting Closer to 5 Percent

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Health reported 902 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, up from the 580 new cases reported Wednesday. The cumulative total of cases in Virginia is 143,492, while deaths stand at 3,113 and hospitalizations at 10,769.

Wednesday's figure of 580 new cases was the lowest statewide total since 354 cases were reported on July 6. As of Thursday, the seven-day average of cases is 902, compared to 1,101 a week ago on Sept. 17.

The new cases reported Thursday included 225 in the central Virginia region, 209 in the southwest region, 170 in Northern Virginia, 149 in the eastern region and 149 in the northwest region.

With a 5.3 percent positive average of PCR tests statewide as of Sept. 20, Virginia is approaching the 5 percent rate recommended by the World Health Organization for governments to allow further reopening. There have been 1,952,965 PCR tests completed in Virginia. At the peak of the pandemic, the percent positive figure in Virginia was more than 20 percent.

One new outbreak was reported on Thursday, lifting the total number of outbreaks in Virginia to 1,000. A majority of the outbreaks are in long-term care facilities.

Statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations stand at 982, up from 916 reported Wednesday. The breakdown of hospitalizations by region is 263 in the central region, 245 in the eastern region, 237 in the northern region, 153 in the southwest region and 84 in the northwest region. The northern region saw its hospitalizations increase from 194 on Wednesday to 237 on Thursday, according to the VDH.

There have been 17,099 total COVID-19 patients discharged from Virginia hospitals to date, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

As of Thursday, current hospitalizations include 112 COVID-19 patients on ventilators and 219 in the intensive care units. Ventilator use is at 20 percent among all hospital patients, and ICU occupancy is at 79 percent. Virginia's 2019 average for ICU occupancy was 67 percent. No hospitals are reporting difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment in the next 72 hours.

Here are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area between Wednesday and Thursday:

• Alexandria: 3,761 cases, 317 hospitalizations, 69 deaths; increase of 20 cases, three hospitalizations and one death
• Arlington County: 3,889 cases, 498 hospitalizations, 148 deaths; increase of 12 cases and one hospitalization
• Fairfax County: 20,504 cases, 2,155 hospitalizations, 583 deaths; increase of 67 cases and eight hospitalizations
• Fairfax City: 136 cases, 13 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of one case
• Falls Church: 70 cases, 13 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of one case and one hospitalization
• Loudoun County: 6,747 cases, 428 hospitalizations, 124 deaths; increase of 27 cases and one death
• Manassas: 1,910 cases, 128 hospitalizations, 25 deaths; increase of six cases
• Manassas Park: 607 cases, 54 hospitalizations, seven deaths; no changes
• Prince William County: 12,250 cases, 904 hospitalizations, 202 deaths; increase of 35 cases, two hospitalizations and one death
• Fredericksburg: 533 cases, 49 hospitalizations, five deaths; increase of two cases
• Spotsylvania County: 2,119 cases, 132 hospitalizations, 44 deaths; increase of 13 cases and one death
• Stafford County: 1,984 cases, 157 hospitalizations, 18 deaths; increase of 13 cases, two hospitalizations and one death

SEE ALSO:

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