Fredericksburg Reports 1st Death 3 Months Into Coronavirus Crisis

VIRGINIA — More than three months into the coronavirus pandemic, the city of Fredericksburg, with a population of about 30,000, reported its first death from the coronavirus on Tuesday, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The city has seen a smaller number of cases and deaths from the coronavirus compared to other cities in Virginia of similar sizes and demographics.

Along with only one death, Fredericksburg has reported 234 positive cases of the coronavirus and 25 hospitalizations as of Tuesday.

The city of Manassas, with a population of about 41,000, has reported 1,367 positive cases and 16 deaths from the coronavirus. Manassas has about six times as many cases as Fredericksburg and far more deaths, even though its population is only 25 percent greater than Fredericksburg's.

Harrisonburg, a college town like Fredericksburg, has reported 896 positive cases and 23 deaths as of Tuesday. With a population of about 53,000, not even double the population of Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg has about four times as many positive cases and a significantly greater number of deaths.

Across the state, the Virginia Department of Health reported 529 additional cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, up from the 471 new cases reported Monday. Officials also reported 25 new deaths from COVID-19 deaths, up from nine new deaths statewide on Monday.

The latest cumulative totals for all of Virginia are 58,994 positive cases, 5,913 hospitalizations and 1,645 deaths.

As of Tuesday, 565,835 tests (excluding antibody tests) have been completed in Virginia. The seven-day average for percent of positive test results was at 6.4 percent, down from 6.5 percent as of Monday. Tuesday's percent is a new low in the positive rate of coronavirus tests in Virginia, according to the VDH.

According to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, as of Tuesday, 847 people were hospitalized for COVID-19, down one person from the 848 people who were reported hospitalized on Tuesday. So far, 7,725 patients with the virus have been discharged after being hospitalized, up from 7,663 Monday.

As of Tuesday, there were 126 pending or confirmed COVID-19 patients on ventilators, down from 132 on Monday. Among all Virginia hospital patients, 634 of 2,995 available ventilators are being used, representing 21 percent use. No hospitals are reporting difficulty obtaining or restocking personal protective gear or other medical supplies within the next 72 hours.

Of the new cases reported Tuesday in Virginia, 179, or 33.8 percent, came from the Northern Virginia region.

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

• Alexandria: 2,248 cases, 231 hospitalizations, 49 deaths; increase of 12 cases.
• Arlington County: 2,231 cases, 414 hospitalizations, 126 deaths; increase of seven cases and two hospitalizations.
• Fairfax County: 13,579 cases, 1,570 hospitalizations, 445 deaths; increase of 80 cases, seven hospitalizations and seven deaths.
• Fairfax City: 67 cases, seven hospitalizations, six deaths; no changes reported.
• Falls Church: 58 cases, 11 hospitalizations, seven deaths; one fewer case reported.
• Loudoun County: 3,632 cases, 255 hospitalizations, 84 deaths; increase of 20 cases.
• Manassas: 1,367 cases, 91 hospitalizations, 16 deaths; increase of one case and one hospitalization.
• Manassas Park: 416 cases, 44 hospitalizations, five deaths; increase of two cases.
• Prince William County: 6,962 cases, 634 hospitalizations, 134 deaths; increase of 58 cases, five hospitalizations and one death.
• Fredericksburg: 234 cases, 25 hospitalizations, one death; increase of two cases and one death.
• Spotsylvania County: 917 cases, 65 hospitalizations, 24 deaths; increase of eight cases, four hospitalizations and three deaths.
• Stafford County: 936 cases, 92 hospitalizations, five deaths; increase of six cases but one fewer hospitalization reported.

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