100K Have First Vaccine Dose, VA Coronavirus Hospitalizations Up

VIRGINIA — Virginia's coronavirus case average and hospitalizations are at new highs five days into the new year, according to the latest Virginia Department of Health data.

There were 4,377 new cases reported on Tuesday, and the latest seven-day average of daily cases is 4,517. A month ago on Dec. 25, the average was 2,508.

New cases by region include 1,065 in the eastern region, 901 in the central region, 897 in the northern region, 830 in the southwest region and 684 in the northwest region.

Statewide, the seven-day positive average of PCR tests is 16.4 percent as of Jan. 2. Positive rates by region are 19.6 percent in the southwest region, 18.5 percent in the eastern region, 15.5 percent in the northern region, 14.8 percent in the northwest region and 14.7 percent in the central region.

As for hospitalizations, current COVID-19 patients stand at 2,918, while total occupied hospital beds stand at 13,398. The state has 16,476 staffed beds in all. There are 558 patients in the intensive care units and 337 on ventilators.

Here's the hospital capacity outlook by region:

• The northern region has 636 beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, 2,806 total beds occupied, and 3,287 staffed beds.
• The eastern region has 631 beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, 2,347 total beds occupied, and 3,348 staffed beds.
• The southwest region has 546 beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, 2,374 total beds occupied, and 2,888 staffed beds.
• The central region has 629 beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, 3,447 total beds occupied, and 4,063 staffed beds.
• The northwest region has 476 beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, 2,424 total beds occupied, and 2,890 staffed beds.

There were 59 new deaths reported on Tuesday, and the seven-day average of daily reports is 39. Data on deaths by dates on the death certificate is also available from the VDH, but data may be incomplete for the most recent weeks.

As of Tuesday, 104,083 people in Virginia have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, and Fairfax County leads localities with 13,949 doses administered. No one has received the second dose, which both Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines require. Pfizer's doses should be taken 21 days apart, and Moderna's doses should be 28 days apart. There have been 481,550 doses distributed so far in Virginia.

With questions raised about only a portion of available doses being reported as administered, a spokesperson for Gov. Ralph Northam told NBC12 the main concern is data reporting delays. Some of Virginia's share was also allocated to the federal vaccination program at long-term care facilities, which began during the week of Dec. 28 in Virginia.

Here are the latest case updates for our coverage areas between Monday and Tuesday:

• Alexandria: 7,586 cases, 444 hospitalizations, 88 deaths; increase of 52 cases and two hospitalizations
• Arlington County: 9,338 cases, 669 hospitalizations, 184 deaths; increase of 48 cases, two hospitalizations and two deaths
• Fairfax County: 46,353 cases, 3,013 hospitalizations, 689 deaths; increase of 257 cases, 15 hospitalizations and two deaths
• Fairfax City: 311 cases, 26 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; no changes
• Falls Church: 188 cases, 18 hospitalizations, six deaths; no changes
• Loudoun County: 14,786 cases, 654 hospitalizations, 161 deaths; increase of 217 cases
• Manassas: 3,009 cases, 147 hospitalizations, 29 deaths; increase of 18 cases
• Manassas Park: 963 cases, 65 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of 10 cases
• Prince William County: 26,963 cases, 1,234 hospitalizations, 262 deaths; increase of 299 cases and six hospitalizations
• Fredericksburg: 1,087 cases, 67 hospitalizations, 11 deaths; increase of 10 cases
• Spotsylvania County: 5,077 cases, 215 hospitalizations, 69 deaths; increase of 76 cases, two hospitalizations and one death
• Stafford County: 5,559 cases, 231 hospitalizations, 25 deaths; increase of 78 cases