Virginia Coronavirus Cases Up To 739, Feds Fund National Guard

VIRGINIA — Virginia is up to 739 cases of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, and 17 deaths, the Virginia Department of Health reported Saturday morning. The latest count comes as officials estimated Virginia's portion of the federal stimulus package, and the federal government authorized funding for the Virginia National Guard's emergency activities.

On Friday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper authorized the governor's request for use of the National Guard under Title 32. Under this Title 32 status, Gov. Ralph Northam commands the National Guard with funding reimbursement from the federal government, said Carlos Hopkins, Virginia's secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, at a Friday press conference.

The Virginia National Guard was activated on March 12, allowing more personnel to move to a state active duty status, Hopkins said. Members have been moving supplies and working other emergency logistics.

Northam said at Friday's press conference the Virginia National Guard is "ready if we need to call them for further support." The state has also been working with the Army Corps of Engineers to identify possible sites for emergency hospital bed capacity.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management tweeted Friday that it's receiving daily shipments of supplies, including N95 respirators and surgical masks. Northam noted that companies like Dominion Energy have donated tens of thousands of personal protective equipment. The state is asking for Virginia businesses to donate or sell personal protective equipment through an online form.

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On Friday, Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne estimated Virginia would receive $3.3 billion of the federal government's $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Of that $3.3 billion, $1.8 billion would go to the state and $1.5 billion would go to localities. The act allows for additional funding for localities with populations over 550,000 such as Fairfax County.

Northam also addressed the lack of a stay-at-home order in Virginia. He called states' different ways of enforcement to keep residents at home "semantics" and urged residents to stay at home except for essential trips.

"If you look at whether this is a shelter at home, if it's a shutdown, [if] it's a lockdown, however you want to describe it, all of the states are giving the same direction, and that is to stay at home," said Northam.

Among the 739 cases of COVID-19 in Virginia, the Fairfax Health District continues to report the most cases of any locality. The health district, which covers Fairfax County, Fairfax City and Falls Church, has 156 cases and reported its second death Friday. The next highest numbers are 75 in Arlington County, 65 in James City County, 56 in Prince William County, 54 in Loudoun County, 35 in Virginia Beach, 31 in Henrico County, 20 in Richmond and 20 in Alexandria.

The latest Virginia data on cases by age group shows COVID-19 can affect different ages. As of Saturday, the 50s age group had 134 cases, followed by 122 cases each in the 20s and 40s age groups. There were 116 cases in the 60s age group, 113 cases in the 30s age group and 81 cases in the 70s age group. There are 34 cases among people 80 or older, seven cases among kids up to age 9, and 10 cases among people aged 10 to 19.

So far the highest number of Virginia cases appeared on March 17 and surrounding days, but that could change as cases continue to be reported. Preliminary numbers reported Saturday show 95 cases that began on March 17, followed by 70 cases on March 18 and 67 cases on March 16. The first Virginia COVID-19 cases appeared on Feb. 28. The dates reflect the time a patient's symptoms began or when the case report was received by the state health department. Illnesses that began March 20 and onward may not be reported yet.

SEE ALSO:

• VA Governor Seeks Federal Coronavirus Test Site, Forgoes Neckties
• Virginia Coronavirus Updates: Things To Know For Week Of March 22