Top Days When Symptoms Began For Virginia Coronavirus Cases

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Health reported 1,300 new coronavirus cases on Saturday and 874 on Sunday. The cumulative case total is up to 133,814, while deaths stand at 2,724 and hospitalizations are at 10,244.

Cases have varied by day, which can explain shifts in the 7-day average. New cases reflect when they were reported to VDH; a more accurate way of looking at trends involves cases by day of the symptoms starting. So far, the peaks for symptom onset appear to be in the latter half of May and mid-July. The day with the highest number of cases was May 18 with 1,286 cases. Data may be incomplete for recent weeks since all cases may not yet be reported.

The top days for cases when symptoms started are:

• May 18: 1,286 cases
• Aug. 24: 1,212
• May 1: 1,211
• May 6: 1,195
• July 20: 1,162
• July 23: 1,127
• July 7: 1,125
• July 14: 1,123
• July 6: 1,119
• July 29: 1,114

Northern Virginia accounted for 233 of the 874 new cases on Sunday. Other regional totals included 204 in the southwest region, 185 in the eastern region, 158 in the central region, and 94 in the northwest region.

Statewide, 1,760,096 PCR tests have been completed in Virginia. The 7-day average positive rate of tests is 7.5 percent statewide as of Sept. 9. The eastern region's average rose in July before decreasing and stabilizing since the latter half of the month. The latest average for the region was 6.8 percent. Gov. Ralph Northam lifted the additional restrictions on the Hampton Roads region on Thursday, citing the positive average and other improved health metrics for the eastern region.

Elsewhere in the state, the southwest region's average has fallen to 8.8 percent after reaching 11 percent in recent days. The northwest region's average is also above the statewide average at 8 percent. The central region's average has been fluctuating and stands at 8.5 percent. The northern region's average remains relatively stable at 6.7 percent.

Hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients totaled 1,012 on Sunday. That includes 289 in the eastern region, 233 in the northern region, 226 in the central region, 164 in the southwest region, and 100 in the northwest region.

According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, 16,310 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from Virginia hospitals to date. The 1,012 current hospitalizations include 119 patients on ventilators and 232 in the intensive care units. Ventilator use is at 20 percent statewide, and ICU occupancy is at 74 percent. There are two hospitals reporting difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment in the next 72 hours.

Here are the latest data updates for our coverage area between Friday and Sunday:

• Alexandria: 3,602 cases, 305 hospitalizations, 62 deaths; increase of 25 cases and one hospitalization
• Arlington County: 3,727 cases, 484 hospitalizations, 145 deaths; increase of 27 cases, three hospitalizations and one death
• Fairfax County: 19,601 cases, 2,111 hospitalizations, 568 deaths; increase of 242 cases, 11 hospitalizations and one death
• Fairfax City: 128 cases, 13 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of one case
• Falls Church: 67 cases, 11 hospitalizations, seven deaths; no changes
• Loudoun County: 6,443 cases, 410 hospitalizations, 118 deaths; increase of 66 cases and two hospitalizations
• Manassas: 1,861 cases, 127 hospitalizations, 24 deaths; increase of 11 cases
• Manassas Park: 594 cases, 54 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of two cases
• Prince William County: 11,665 cases, 886 hospitalizations, 191 deaths; increase of 140 cases and six hospitalizations
• Fredericksburg: 515 cases, 49 hospitalizations, four deaths; increase of seven cases
• Spotsylvania County: 2,011 cases, 129 hospitalizations, 39 deaths; increase of 38 cases and one hospitalization
• Stafford County: 1,858 cases, 147 hospitalizations, 13 deaths; increase of 27 cases and two hospitalizations