Virginia Coronavirus: Over 800 New Cases, Outbreaks Top 200

VIRGINIA — Virginia's cases of the new coronavirus increased by over 800 from Monday to Tuesday and 34 more deaths were reported, according to the latest data from the Virginia Department of Health. The latest totals are 14,339 cases, 492 deaths and 2,165 hospitalizations.

Tuesday's total includes 13,794 laboratory-confirmed cases and 545 probable cases among patients with symptoms and a known exposure to COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. Of the total deaths, 487 were confirmed positive cases.

The state has reported 203 outbreaks, 114 of which are in long-term care facilities. Outbreaks, defined as two or more laboratory-confirmed cases, account for 1,357 cases and 107 deaths. At the Canterbury Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, one of the hardest-hit facilities, reported 49 deaths and 130 cases. The crisis appears to have slowed down, the facility's medical director Dr. Jim Wright told ABC News.

Virginia's other outbreaks include 45 in congregate settings, 18 in health care settings, 17 in correctional facilities, seven in educational settings and two designated as "other." The Fairfax Health District has 34 total outbreaks, the most among localities.

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The numbers of currently hospitalized COVID-19 patients is on the rise, but overall ventilator use in hospitals slightly dropped. The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association reports 1,508 people with confirmed or pending test results currently hospitalized, compared to 1,455 patients reported on Monday. However, 1,914 COVID-19 patients have been discharged, up from 1,843 Monday.

Among Virginia patients with confirmed or pending test results, 376 are in the intensive care unit compared to 389 Monday. The 217 COVID-19 patients using ventilators remains the same. Overall, 596 of available 2,988 ventilators are in use at hospitals, representing 20 percent use of ventilators in Virginia. That 20 percent use is down from 21 percent Monday.

Two hospitals report having difficulty obtaining or replenishing personal protective equipment in the next 72 hours, and one hospital reports difficulty obtaining medical supplies in the same timeframe.

At a Monday news conference, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam expressed confidence about lifting the ban on elective surgeries starting Friday, May 1. The decision had intended to allow medical facilities to focus resources on coronavirus patients and others with urgent needs. The ban on elective surgeries does apply to those in which a delay would harm a patient, as well as outpatient visits in hospital-based clinics, family planning services, or emergency needs. Hospitals continue to treat emergencies and perform essential surgeries.

Last week, Northam outlined a blueprint of the first phase for reopening Virginia. His criteria calls for a 14-day downward trend of the percentage of positive tests and hospitalizations, increased testing and contact tracing, sufficient hospital beds and intensive care capacity and sustained supply of personal protective equipment.

Northam said he'd like to move into the first reopening phase no sooner than May 8, but an exact reopening date has not yet been confirmed. Phase one would see the continuation of social distancing, teleworking, limits on travel and public gatherings, recommendation to wear face coverings in public.

A business task force made up of more than two dozen business leaders is advising Northam on how to ease coronavirus-related restrictions on individuals and businesses. The task force will help the Northam administration determine which businesses can reopen first and whether the reopening of businesses can be done regionally rather than on a statewide basis. Guidance for all businesses and public-facing businesses like restaurants and non-essential retail is expected in early May.

Virginia's first confirmed coronavirus case on March 7 was followed by the closure of certain non-essential businesses and ban on gatherings of more than 10 people on March 24. This order was extended until May 8. A separate stay-at-home order was issued on March 30 and is effective through June 10.

Northam's goal for a safe reopening calls for testing 10,000 people per day in Virginia. As of Tuesday, 82,753 people in Virginia have been tested for the virus, an increase of 2,573 from Monday. The Virginia Department of Health cautions that negative test results may be underrepresented due to a large number of reports from new labs testing for the virus.

Fairfax County, the state's most populous locality, continues to report the highest number of cases and deaths. Here are the latest updates for localities in our Northern Virginia coverage area, as of Tuesday.

• Alexandria: 653 cases, 82 hospitalizations, 20 deaths
• Arlington County: 865 cases, 157 hospitalizations, 32 deaths
• Fairfax County: 3,278 cases, 555 hospitalizations, 114 deaths
• Fairfax City: 27 cases, four hospitalizations, two deaths
• Falls Church: 26 cases, three hospitalizations, two deaths
• Loudoun County: 688 cases, 84 hospitalizations, 12 deaths
• Manassas: 175 cases, 28 hospitalizations, two deaths
• Manassas Park: 53 cases, eight hospitalizations, one death
• Prince William County: 1,449 cases, 147 hospitalizations, 20 deaths
• Fredericksburg: 27 cases, six hospitalizations, no deaths
• Spotsylvania County: 126 cases, 23 hospitalizations, three deaths
• Stafford County: 221 cases, 43 hospitalizations, two deaths

SEE ALSO:

• Northam Addresses Hospital, Business Reopenings From Coronavirus
• Virginia Coronavirus Hospitalizations Up, New Death Reports Fall
• VA Governor Outlines Reopening Criteria, Earliest Possible Date
• Unemployment Claims In Virginia Near 500K; DC Unemployment Grows