VA Coronavirus Health Data Moving In Promising Direction

VIRGINIA — The public health metrics monitored by Virginia officials to determine how to handle coronavirus reopening plans are staying steady or improving. The rate of positive coronavirus tests continues to decline and the number of hospitalizations and ventilators used by coronavirus patients also are heading downward, according to data released Wednesday by the Virginia Department of Health.

On Tuesday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced that Virginia plans to enter phase three of its coronavirus reopening plan for businesses and other establishments across the state starting July 1. The governor said the health metrics are moving in a direction that makes him confident the state can safely start phase three next week.

The VDH reported 520 additional cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday, down slightly from the number of new cases reported Tuesday. Officials also reported 16 new deaths from COVID-19 deaths, down from the 25 new deaths reported statewide Tuesday. The latest cumulative totals for all of Virginia are 59,514 positive cases, 5,955 hospitalizations and 1,661 deaths.

As of Wednesday, 574,013 tests (excluding antibody tests) have been completed in Virginia. The seven-day average for percent of positive test results was at 6.2 percent, down from 6.4 percent as of Tuesday.

According to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, as of Wednesday, 886 people were hospitalized for COVID-19, up about 40 people from the number of people who were reported hospitalized on Tuesday. So far, 7,765 patients with the virus have been discharged after being hospitalized, up from 7,725 Tuesday.

As of Wednesday, there were 107 pending or confirmed COVID-19 patients on ventilators, down from 126 on Tuesday. Among all Virginia hospital patients, 611 of 2,995 available ventilators are being used, representing 20 percent use. No hospitals are reporting difficulty obtaining or restocking personal protective gear or other medical supplies within the next 72 hours.

VDH revised its coronavirus data for Fredericksburg. On Tuesday, the health department reported the city's first death on its COVID-19 dashboard. That one reported death was removed on Wednesday and the city is now back to reporting no deaths from the coronavirus.

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

• Alexandria: 2,258 cases, 231 hospitalizations, 50 deaths; increase of 10 cases and one death.
• Arlington County: 2,438 cases, 415 hospitalizations, 126 deaths; increase of seven cases and one hospitalization.
• Fairfax County: 13,588 cases, 1,579 hospitalizations, 450 deaths; increase of nine cases, nine hospitalizations and five deaths.
• Fairfax City: 69 cases, seven hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of two cases and one death.
• Falls Church: 57 cases, 11 hospitalizations, seven deaths; one fewer case reported.
• Loudoun County: 3,683 cases, 258 hospitalizations, 84 deaths; increase of 51 cases and three hospitalizations.
• Manassas: 1,370 cases, 91 hospitalizations, 16 deaths; increase of three cases.
• Manassas Park: 416 cases, 44 hospitalizations, five deaths; no changes reported.
• Prince William County: 7,038 cases, 637 hospitalizations, 136 deaths; increase of 76 cases, three hospitalizations and two deaths.
• Fredericksburg: 235 cases, 24 hospitalizations, no deaths; increase of one case, one fewer hospitalization and one fewer death.
• Spotsylvania County: 924 cases, 66 hospitalizations, 26 deaths; increase of seven cases, one hospitalization and two deaths.
• Stafford County: 949 cases, 92 hospitalizations, five deaths; increase of 13 cases.

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