Deaths Down In Virginia As Coronavirus Hospitalizations Increase

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Health reported 844 additional coronavirus cases on Thursday, with Northern Virginia accounting for 169, or 20 percent, of the new cases. The statewide daily increase was down from the 1,022-case increase from Tuesday to Wednesday.

As with Wednesday, there were only three new deaths reported statewide. The cumulative totals for Virginia, as of Thursday, are 81,237 cases, 7,437 hospitalizations and 2,054 deaths.

The statewide 7-day average of cases slightly fell from 981 to 972 on Thursday after the average had been increasing since July 7. A month ago on June 22, the average was 511 cases. At a peak, the average was 1,195 cases on May 31.

One of the three deaths reported in Virginia Thursday was a resident of Northern Virginia, according to the VDH. Deaths statewide and nationally have mostly been down due to more cases in young people and better hospital outcomes.

The statewide average of new deaths has fluctuated, but it remains lower than the peak average of 34.1 on May 28. As of Thursday, the 7-day average was 6.7 deaths.

Statewide, the 7-day average of positive coronavirus tests was 7.7 percent as of July 19, the most recent date with data. In Northern Virginia, the percent positive average was lower at 5.6 percent on July 20. There have been 969,145 nasal swab tests completed across Virginia as of Thursday, an increase of 17,971 from Wednesday.

Current hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients increased from 1,157 to 1,218 on Thursday, according to Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association data. There have been 10,479 COVID-19 patients discharged, up from 10,331 on Tuesday.

The association provided new data on the capacity of intensive care units (ICU) statewide. Among COVID-19 patients and non-COVID-19 patients, ICU occupancy is at 77 percent as of Thursday. The 2019 average for Virginia was 67 percent, or nearly 10 percent below the current occupancy.

As of Thursday, the hospitalized COVID-19 patients include 136 on ventilators and 257 in the ICU. The ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 22 percent. One hospital is reporting difficulty obtaining personal protective gear in the next 72 hours, as reported by the association on Thursday.

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

• Alexandria: 2,639 cases, 256 hospitalizations, 56 deaths; increase of 21 cases.
• Arlington County: 2,776 cases, 431 hospitalizations, 135 deaths; increase of 13 cases.
• Fairfax County: 15,126 cases, 1,797 hospitalizations, 511 deaths; increase of 48 cases, four hospitalizations and one death.
• Fairfax City: 74 cases, nine hospitalizations, seven deaths; no change.
• Falls Church: 55 cases, 10 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of one case.
• Loudoun County: 4,758 cases, 325 hospitalizations, 106 deaths; increase of 20 cases and one hospitalization.
• Manassas: 1,553 cases, 117 hospitalizations, 20 deaths; increase of nine cases.
• Manassas Park: 479 cases, 49 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of one case.
• Prince William County: 8,321 cases, 758 hospitalizations, 165 deaths; increase of 56 cases and 15 hospitalizations.
• Fredericksburg: 308 cases, 31 hospitalizations, one death; increase of six cases and one hospitalization.
• Spotsylvania County: 1,212 cases, 87 hospitalizations, 33 deaths; increase of 15 cases and one hospitalization.
• Stafford County: 1,163 cases, 111 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of 12 cases, one hospitalization and one death.

SEE ALSO:

• Coronavirus Cases Top 80K In Virginia; 3 New Deaths Statewide
  
• Fredericksburg Records First Death 4 Months Into Pandemic
• Northam Urges Compliance With Rules Amid Hampton Roads Case Spike