978 New Coronavirus Cases, 9 Deaths Reported In Virginia

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Health reported 978 additional coronavirus cases and nine new deaths. The cumulative total of cases in Virginia is 110,860, and deaths stand at 2,436. There have been 9,071 coronavirus hospitalizations to date.

The latest 7-day average of new cases is 860, a contrast to the peak average of 1,198 cases on Aug. 8. One explanation for that peak is a backlog of cases from two days, causing a record-high 2,015 new cases to be reported on Aug. 7. But since that peak, there have been three days with new cases above 1,000 and 11 days with new cases below 1,000.

By health region, Friday's new cases included 269 in the eastern region, 260 in the northern region, 196 in the southwest region, 148 in the central region, and 105 in the northwest region.

According to a weekly report on the University of Virginia's COVID-19 model, the risk of surges is shifting from the urban areas of Hampton Roads to rural south and southwest Virginia. The researchers say eight health districts in these areas have surges or a slowing surge. It's an improvement from last week, when 16 health districts in eastern, south and southwest Virginia were reported to have surges.

The transmission rate, defined as the average of how many people someone has transmitted the virus to, is below 1 statewide. As of Aug. 8, it was estimated to be 0.931. However, the populous Northern Virginia had a rate of 1.019. The southwest region is the other place with a rate above 1 (1.042). However, the report cautions that transmission rate estimates have been volatile.

Outbreaks, defined as two or more laboratory-confirmed cases in a setting, are associated with 16,380 cases in Virginia. The facility type with the most cases and deaths continues to be long-term care facilities. These outbreaks are tied to 8,995 cases and 1,319 deaths. Correctional facility outbreaks are associated with 3,446 cases and 16 deaths, while congregate settings have 3,330 cases and 44 deaths.

Virginia's current COVID-19 hospitalizations stand at 1,266 as of Friday, led by the eastern region with 407. Hospitalizations in other regions include 285 in the central region, 260 in the northern region, 160 in the southwest region, and 121 in the northwest region.

Per Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association data, 14,249 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals statewide.

The COVID-19 hospitalizations include 142 on ventilators and 263 in the intensive care units. Ventilator use among all hospital patients remains at 20 percent, and ICU occupancy increased from 74 percent to 80 percent from Thursday to Friday. Virginia's average ICU occupancy in 2019 was 67 percent.

No hospitals are reporting difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment or other medical supplies in the next 72 hours.

As of Friday, 1,437,278 tests have been completed in Virginia, up 18,943 from Thursday. The latest average of PCR tests stood at 6.6 percent on Aug. 17.

Here are the latest case updates for our coverage areas between Thursday and Friday:

• Alexandria: 3,203 cases, 288 hospitalizations, 61 deaths; increase of 17 cases and one hospitalization
• Arlington County: 3,334 cases, 448 hospitalizations, 137 deaths; increase of 24 cases and one hospitalization
• Fairfax County: 17,419 cases, 2,005 hospitalizations, 539 deaths; increase of 89 cases and three hospitalizations
• Fairfax City: 106 cases, 13 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of one case
• Falls Church: 64 cases, 10 hospitalizations, seven deaths; no change
• Loudoun County: 5,647 cases, 364 hospitalizations, 115 deaths; increase of 33 cases and one hospitalization
• Manassas: 1,740 cases, 125 hospitalizations, 23 deaths; increase of six cases
• Manassas Park: 549 cases, 52 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of three cases
• Prince William County: 10,187 cases, 831 hospitalizations, 180 deaths; increase of 87 cases, six hospitalizations and one death
• Fredericksburg: 440 cases, 47 hospitalizations, four deaths; increase of one case and two hospitalizations
• Spotsylvania County: 1,673 cases, 106 hospitalizations, 35 deaths; increase of 11 cases and one hospitalization
• Stafford County: 1,570 cases, 130 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; increase of 14 cases and one hospitalization