984 New Coronavirus Cases In VA, Outbreak Impacts ICE Facility

VIRGINIA — The month of July closes with 984 additional coronavirus cases reported Friday in Virginia as officials monitor an outbreak at a central Virginia immigration detention center.

Gov. Ralph Northam and Virginia's two U.S. senators are calling on President Trump to send the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Farmville. According to the Washington Post, 262 undocumented immigrants have positive test results, and the facility has about 400 immigrants.

In a letter, Northam raised concerns about staff testing after eight employees tested positive. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine wrote in a statement that the outbreak presents a risk to staff and the community when immigrants are released.

The Post reported ICE's response, including increased testing, face masks, and separation of detainees who don't test positive.

Another area of focus for Virginia officials is Hampton Roads, where additional restrictions began on Friday. Northam cited increasing new cases, hospitalizations and positive tests in the region when announcing the executive order.

The restrictions, which include a 50-person social gathering limit and indoor dining at 50-percent capacity, only apply to the localities of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Williamsburg, Newport News, Poquoson, James City County, and York County.

Across Virginia, cumulative cases are up to 89,888, hospitalizations total 7,866, and 2,174 people have died. New cases by region include 405 in the eastern region, 188 in the central region, 188 in the central region, 123 in the northern region, and 80 in the northwest region.

There were 33 new coronavirus deaths reported on Friday. These reflect those reported to the Virginia Department of Health within the last day, not the actual date of death. Data on deaths by date on the death certificate may be incomplete. The 7-day moving average of deaths is 15.3.

The latest 7-day average of positive nasal swab tests is 7.2 percent as of July 27. The average has been stable in the last few weeks after increasing from the 6-percent range earlier in July. As of Friday, 1,107,360 nasal swab tests have been completed in Virginia, an increase of 1,091,615 nasal swab tests have been completed in Virginia, an increase of 15,745 tests from Thursday.

As of July 27, the positive rates by region are:

• Northern: 5.9 percent
• Eastern: 10.4 percent
• Central: 6.1 percent
• Northwest: 4.9 percent
• Southwest: 7.7 percent

Current hospitalizations are overall trending upward after falling to low of 783 patients on July 6. As of Friday, there were 1,334 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Virginia, down from 1,357 on Thursday. According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, 11,937 COVID-19 patients have been discharged, up 11,728 from Thursday.

Hospitalizations by region are:

• Northern: 259
• Eastern: 566
• Central: 225
• Northwest: 116
• Southwest: 168

Hospitalizations include 145 on ventilators and 279 in the intensive care units. Among all hospital patients, ventilator use is at 21 percent statewide, while ICU occupancy stands at 78 percent. Virginia's average ICU occupancy in 2019 was 67 percent. No hospitals are experiencing difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment or other medical supplies in the next 72 hours.

Here are the latest case updates for our coverage areas from Thursday to Friday:

• Alexandria: 2,798 cases, 269 hospitalizations, 58 deaths; increase of nine cases, three hospitalizations and one death
• Arlington County: 2,897 cases, 434 hospitalizations, 136 deaths; increase of 13 cases, one hospitalization and one death
• Fairfax County: 15,616 cases, 1,899 hospitalizations, 520 deaths; increase of 10 cases, 27 hospitalizations, and one death
• Fairfax City: 79 cases, 11 hospitalizations, seven deaths; two cases removed, increase of one hospitalization
• Falls Church: 60 cases, 10 hospitalizations, six deaths; one case removed
• Loudoun County: 4,995 cases, 335 hospitalizations, 110 deaths; increase of 10 cases, four hospitalizations and one death
• Manassas: 1,604 cases, 118 hospitalizations, 20 deaths; increase of eight cases
• Manassas Park: 497 cases, 50 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of two cases
• Prince William County: 8,838 cases, 774 hospitalizations, 170 deaths; increase of 54 cases, four hospitalizations and one death
• Fredericksburg: 348 cases, 38 hospitalizations, two deaths; increase of three cases
• Spotsylvania County: 1,305 cases, 92 hospitalizations, 33 deaths; increase of 14 cases and one hospitalization
• Stafford County: 1,243 cases, 116 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of six cases

SEE ALSO:

• Northam To Add Coronavirus Restrictions In Hampton Roads
• Virginia's Coronavirus Hospitalization Count Trending Up