Hospitalizations In Virginia From Coronavirus Climbing Again

VIRGINIA — The number of coronavirus patients in Virginia hospitalized and on ventilators has increased since Tuesday, according to the latest data from the state hospital association. Despite the increase, the number of ventilators in use in Virginia represents only 20 percent of the total number in the state.

The number of currently hospitalized patients with confirmed or pending coronavirus test results totaled 1,613 Thursday, up from 1,496 Tuesday, the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association reported Thursday. There have been 2,825 COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals, up from 2,617 Tuesday.

Among Virginia patients with confirmed or pending test results, 371 are in the intensive care unit compared to 361 on Tuesday. On Thursday, 203 COVID-19 patients were using ventilators, up from 189 patients using ventilators Tuesday. There are 587 ventilators in use of the 2,912 available ventilators in hospitals.

On Thursday, the Virginia Department of Health reported 21,570 positive cases of the new coronavirus in Virginia Thursday and 769 deaths from COVID-19. The number of people who have tested positive increased by 1,314 from Tuesday when 20,256 people had tested positive. Due to technical problems, the department did not release state coronavirus data Wednesday.

The number of reported deaths from COVID-19 increased by 56 Thursday from the 713 deaths reported Tuesday. The department reported 257 coronavirus outbreaks across the state, 150 of them in long-term care facilities. In long-term care facilities, 452 people have died from the coronavirus. In the state's prison, 826 prisoners and staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Outbreaks in Northern Virginia health districts include 43 in Fairfax, 12 in Arlington and Loudoun, 10 in Alexandria and eight in Prince William. Seventy-two of those outbreaks have been at long-term care facilities, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

On May 1, the Virginia Department of Health started reporting all completed testing. Before that date, a COVID-19 patient tested multiple times was counted once; now multiple tests are counted individually.

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According to state data, 122,119 unique people were tested. Overall, 136,558 tests have been completed in Virginia, an increase of 8,620 from Tuesday to Thursday.

Gov. Ralph Northam has identified Friday, May 15 as the tentative date to start the first of three reopening phases for certain businesses and activities. That means the closure of certain non-essential businesses is extended through May 15. Once the first phases of reopening begins, businesses could reopen with enhanced safety measures in place.

Northam anticipated the first phase lasting around three weeks before the state seeks to further ease restrictions on social gatherings. Phases two and three also will last about three weeks. The separate stay-at-home order is in effect through June 10.

Here are the latest cumulative totals for localities in our Northern Virginia coverage area on Thursday:

• Alexandria: 1,060 cases, 127 hospitalizations, 29 deaths
• Arlington County: 1,248 cases, 222 hospitalizations, 52 deaths
• Fairfax County: 5,045 cases, 832 hospitalizations, 211 deaths
• Fairfax City: 35 cases, six hospitalizations, three deaths
• Falls Church: 36 cases, eight hospitalizations, four deaths
• Loudoun County: 1,043 cases, 105 hospitalizations, 26 deaths
• Manassas: 332 cases, 38 hospitalizations, one death
• Manassas Park: 106 cases, 12 hospitalizations, two deaths
• Prince William County: 2,398 cases, 247 hospitalizations, 39 deaths
• Fredericksburg: 52 cases, 10 hospitalizations, no deaths
• Spotsylvania County: 230 cases, 27 hospitalizations, four deaths
• Stafford County: 334 cases, 52 hospitalizations, two deaths

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