416 New Cases As VA's Phase 3 Starts, Caution Urged For July 4

VIRGINIA — As phase three of reopening started Wednesday across Virginia, 416 additional coronavirus cases were reported by the Virginia Department of Health. Statewide, the cumulative numbers stand at 63,203 cases, 6,262 hospitalizations and 1,786 deaths.

After notable declines in new cases in the first half of June, daily cases have remained steady in the second half. Daily increases in recent days have been 598 (Tuesday), 453 (Monday), 489 (Sunday), 677 (Saturday) and 624 (Friday).

The 7-day positive rate of tests is slightly up to 6.1 percent on June 27 after reaching a low of 5.8 percent on June 23 and 24. There have been 655,958 nasal swab tests conducted in Virginia, an increase of 13.587 tests from Tuesday.

With the Fourth of July holiday approaching, residents are urged to remain cautious about the virus. According to a Virginia Department of Health news release, "larger increases can occur following close gatherings of crowds, travel to COVID-19 hot spots, and simply due to people in close contact in smaller groups and not wearing masks."

Concerns of the virus spreading are growing for visitors of popular beach destinations for DC area residents. On Monday, the Delaware Division of Public Health asked visitors, residents and workers in Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach to be tested. Testing in Rehoboth Beach resulted in about 100 positive cases, while testing in Dewey Beach identified another dozen cases. Testing is especially encouraged for those attending parties, restaurants or bars in the last two weeks without social distancing or wearing face coverings. Delaware Gov. John Carney ordered beach bars to close in eastern Sussex County to limit the spread of the coronavirus in beach communities.

As phase three was set to start in Virginia, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam also ordered bar seating and congregating areas of restaurants to remain closed to help limit the chance of customers gathering without social distancing. Northam asked residents to continue precautions such six feet of physical distancing from other households, frequent hand washing, and testing when you have COVID-19 symptoms. The face mask requirement at indoor public places continues, and "safer at home" guidance continues, particularly for those at higher risk from the virus. The full list of guidelines for phase three is available at www.virginia.gov/coronavirus/forwardvirginia.

Several states are reporting increases in cases among young people, and Loudoun County has noted this trend locally. Loudoun County Health Director Dr. David Goodfriend said it appears many teenagers and young adults found positive for the coronavirus had traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina over the last two weeks, WUSA9 reported Tuesday.

As of Wednesday, the 30 to 39 age group accounted for the highest share of cases in Virginia. However, many of the reported deaths are among the 80 and up age group.

Here is the breakdown of cases by age group:

• Ages 0-9: 2,116 cases
• Ages 10-19: 4,435 cases
• Ages 20-29: 10,608 cases
• Ages 30-39: 11,666 cases
• Ages 40-49: 11,220
• Ages 50-59: 9,601 cases
• Ages 60-69: 6,285 cases
• Ages 70-79: 3,270 cases
• Ages 80 and up: 3,385 cases
• Not reported: 617 cases

Here is the breakdown of deaths by age group:

• Ages 0-9: no deaths
• Ages 10-19: no deaths
• Ages 20-29: four deaths
• Ages 30-39: 12 deaths
• Ages 40-49: 44 deaths
• Ages 50-59: 111 deaths
• Ages 60-69: 258 deaths
• Ages 70-79: 443 deaths
• Ages 80 and up: 912 deaths
• Not reported: two deaths

According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, 892 people with confirmed or pending coronavirus test results were hospitalized as of Tuesday, down from 902 on Tuesday. This includes 205 COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit and 95 on ventilators. There are 645 of 3,033 ventilators in use by all hospital patients, representing 21 percent use. A total of 8,131 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals.

Here are the latest coronavirus updates for our Virginia Patch coverage areas:

• Alexandria: 2,325 cases, 237 hospitalizations, 57 deaths; one hospitalization removed
• Arlington County: 2,484 cases, 418 hospitalizations, 132 deaths; increase of five cases
• Fairfax County: 13,864 cases, 1,622 hospitalizations, 488 deaths, increase of 14 cases and nine hospitalizations
• Fairfax City: 70 cases, seven hospitalizations, seven deaths; no changes
• Falls Church: 52 cases, 11 hospitalizations, eight deaths; four cases removed
• Loudoun County: 4,047 cases, 279 hospitalizations, 87 deaths; increase of 47 cases and four hospitalizations
• Manassas: 1,414 cases, 98 hospitalizations, 18 deaths; increase of 17 cases, one hospitalization and two deaths
• Manassas Park: 430 cases, 46 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of one case
• Prince William County: 7,331 cases, 659 hospitalizations, 144 deaths; increase of 46 cases and three hospitalizations
• Fredericksburg: 249 cases, 24 hospitalizations, no deaths; increase of three cases
• Spotsylvania County: 994 cases, 76 hospitalizations, 30 deaths; increase of one case, two hospitalizations and one death
• Stafford County: 990 cases, 92 hospitalizations, five deaths; increase of two cases

SEE ALSO:

• Bar Seating Will Remain Closed In Virginia's Phase Three
• New Coronavirus Cases In Virginia Creep Up On Eve Of Phase 3
• How Should Virginia Schools Reopen This Fall? Take Patch's Survey