Daily COVID-19 Cases Top 4,100 For First Time In Virginia

VIRGINIA — Virginia has seen its average of daily cases and current COVID-19 hospitalizations reach new heights in recent days. On Saturday, the Virginia Department of Health reported 4,177 new cases, which is the most new cases reported in a single day since the start of the pandemic.

The latest seven-day average of daily cases is 3,920. Cases by region include 1,088 in the northern region, 1,073 in the southwest region, 772 in the northwest region, 753 in the eastern region and 491 in the central region.

On Thursday, Gov. Ralph Northam updated his stay-at-home order to modify restrictions already in place across the state to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The changes include a new statewide curfew, a universal mask requirement and lowering the size of social gatherings.
Under the curfew, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday, residents must stay inside from midnight to 5 a.m., unless they are commuting to or from work, obtaining food and goods, or seeking medical attention.

Current hospitalizations stand at 2,117. That includes 440 patients in the intensive care units and 229 on ventilators. Hospitalizations by region are 529 in the northern region, 429 in the southwest region, 409 in the eastern region, 391 in the northwest region, and 330 in the central region.

Ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 31 percent capacity, and ICU occupancy is at 77 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. The average ICU occupancy in 2019 was 67 percent. No hospitals have reported difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment since Sept. 18.

There were 39 new deaths reported on Saturday, and the seven-day average of daily deaths reported is 30. Data on deaths by the date on death certificates shows the days with the most deaths in May. Data may be incomplete for the most recent weeks.

Northam last implemented new statewide restrictions on Nov. 15. That included a limit of 25 people for public and private gatherings; expansion of the face mask mandate to anyone 5 and over for indoor public places; a ban on alcohol sales, consumption and possession of alcohol after 10 p.m. at restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries or tasting rooms; and strengthened enforcement of state guidelines that had been best practices at essential businesses.

The governor first announced measures on March 23 to ban gatherings over 10 people, close certain nonessential businesses and close schools for the academic year. The first phase of Northam's reopening plan began May 15 for all areas except Northern Virginia, Richmond and Accomack County, and Northern Virginia entered phase one on May 29. Phase two began for all but Northern Virginia and Richmond on June 5, and those areas began it on June 12.
See also: Most Will Get Coronavirus Vaccine But Questions Raised: VA Survey

All of the state has been in phase three of Northam's reopening plan since July 1. While that status hasn't changed, additional restrictions were placed on Hampton Roads from July 31 to Sept. 10i n response to a surge in that region.

The new restrictions come as Virginia and other states wait on approval of a COVID-19 virus vaccination. Pfizer and Moderna have applied for emergency use authorizations with the FDA, which approved the Pfizer vaccine on Friday.

On Saturday morning, Northam announced in a post on his Twitter account that Virginia would be receiving the first allotment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in the next 24-48 hours.

Together with @VDHgov, we have been preparing for this moment since the spring.

We expect to receive our first allotment of the @pfizer #COVID19 vaccine in the next 24 to 48 hours, and will immediately begin distribution to our health care workers and long-term care facilities. https://t.co/j16NbDp7cR
— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) December 12, 2020

Based on new information about the federal government's Operation Warp Speed, Virginia health officials are preparing to receive an estimated 480,000 doses of vaccine from two manufacturers — Pfizer and Moderna — by the end of the month. This is a considerably larger amount than the estimated initial 70,000 doses of a coronavirus vaccine Northam said last week the state could expect from Pfizer alone.

The larger number of doses will ensure that nearly all of the 480,000 people in Virginia's two top-priority groups — health care personnel and long-term care facility residents — will be taken care of in the first round of vaccinations. The Virginia Department of Health estimates up to 500,000 people are in these two groups.

Below are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area from Friday to Saturday:

• Alexandria: 6,165 cases, 395 hospitalizations, 82 deaths; increase of 76 cases, five hospitalizations
• Arlington County: 7,263 cases, 612 hospitalizations, 164 deaths; increase of 57 cases, five hospitalizations
• Fairfax County: 36,115 cases, 2,685 hospitalizations, 641 deaths; increase of 367 cases, nine hospitalizations and eight deaths
• Fairfax City: 238 cases, 21 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; increase of three cases
• Falls Church: 138 cases, 16 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of two cases
• Loudoun County: 11,709 cases, 583 hospitalizations, 151 deaths; increase of 164 cases and three hospitalizations
• Manassas: 2,542 cases, 143 hospitalizations, 28 deaths; increase of 48 cases
• Manassas Park: 802 cases, 62 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of seven cases
• Prince William County: 20,908 cases, 1,138 hospitalizations, 242 deaths; increase of 365 cases, two hospitalizations and two deaths
• Fredericksburg: 823 cases, 58 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of eight cases
• Spotsylvania County: 3,705 cases, 188 hospitalizations, 58 deaths; increase of 52 cases and two hospitalizations
• Stafford County: 4,007 cases, 208 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of 82 cases and one hospitalization

Patch editor Emily Leayman contributed to the reporting of this story.