College Campuses Report Cases, Positive Average Up In NW Virginia

VIRGINIA — As August is close to its end, the Virginia Department of Health reported 938 new coronavirus cases on Sunday. The 7-day average of cases is 969, compared to 1,095 a month ago on July 30. There was just one new death reported, and it didn't occur in Northern Virginia. The cumulative case total stands at 119,747, while 2,569 total deaths and 9,555 hospitalizations have been reported.

One recent trend has been the appearance of coronavirus cases as college campuses welcomed students for the fall semester. The college town of Radford has seen cases spike in recent days as Radford University starts the semester. According to WSLS, the university suspended a fraternity for reportedly telling members who went to parties not to be tested locally, and it implemented a 10-person gathering limit.

Montgomery County, which includes Virginia Tech's Blacksburg campus, reported its highest one-day case count (28) on Sunday. According to the Roanoke Times, Virginia Tech is enforcing 15-person gathering and party limits and mask wearing. The university has reported 21 cumulative coronavirus cases.

Other major higher education institutions in Virginia are keeping track of cases and data like testing. Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, a campus with 4,412 residential students, said there are 108 active student cases and eight active employee cases as of Friday. There are 69 residential students in isolation on campus and 100 in self-quarantine to monitor for symptoms. George Mason University in Fairfax reported seven positive tests among students and three among employees as of Sunday. The University of Virginia in Charlottesville reported 63 total student and employee cases.

In Harrisonburg, James Madison University said 159 student cases and three faculty or staff cases have been self-reported since Aug. 17. That number may not reflect cases on campus, as some are working or attending classes remotely. Harrisonburg had 45 new cases on Sunday, the third highest day for new cases. The city had 95 new cases on April 17 and 54 on April 22.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, the most cases have been reported in the 20 to 29 age group (23,825), followed by the 30 to 39 age group (21,543). In the 20 to 29 age group, there have been five deaths; the 30 to 39 age group has 24 deaths. There have been the most deaths in the 80 and up age group (1,242).

Statewide and Regional Updates

On a regional basis, Virginia's northern region accounted for 228 cases, or about 24 percent of the state's new cases on Sunday. Other cases by region include 227 in the southwest region, 202 in the eastern region, 142 in the central region, and 139 in the northwest region.

As for the positive rates, some regions are above the 7-day statewide average of 7.4 percent. On Aug. 28, the central region's average was 7.7 percent, southwest region's was 8.2 percent, and the eastern region's average was 8.6 percent. The northwest region stayed below the statewide average with 7.2 percent, but that average is up from 5.7 percent just three days ago. The northern region's average remains stable at 6.3 percent.

Statewide, 1,568,194 tests have been completed, up 12,707 from Saturday.

Current COVID-19 hospitalizations stand at 1,090 in Virginia. That includes 355 in the eastern region, 265 in the northern region, 222 in the central region, and 142 each in the northwest and southwest regions. As of Sunday, 14,999 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals.

According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, the hospitalizations include 132 on ventilators and 251 in the intensive care units. Ventilator use is at 19 percent statewide, and ICU capacity is at 72 percent. The 2019 statewide average for ICU occupancy was 67 percent. There are two hospitals reporting difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment in the next 72 hours.

Here are the latest case updates for our coverage areas between Saturday and Sunday:

• Alexandria: 3,369 cases, 298 hospitalizations, 62 deaths; increase of 11 cases and one hospitalization
• Arlington County: 3,540 cases, 466 hospitalizations, 137 deaths; increase of 27 cases and five hospitalizations
• Fairfax County: 18,310 cases, 2,054 hospitalizations, 555 deaths; increase of 118 cases and three hospitalizations
• Fairfax City: 120 cases, 13 hospitalizations, seven deaths; no changes
• Falls Church: 66 cases, 11 hospitalizations, seven deaths; no changes
• Loudoun County: 5,945 cases, 383 hospitalizations, 118 deaths; increase of 21 cases and four hospitalizations
• Manassas: 1,795 cases, 126 hospitalizations, 23 deaths; increase of five cases
• Manassas Park: 562 cases, 53 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of one case
• Prince William County: 10,767 cases, 854 hospitalizations, 184 deaths; increase of 45 cases and three hospitalizations
• Fredericksburg: 479 cases, 47 hospitalizations, five deaths; increase of three cases
• Spotsylvania County: 1,793 cases, 119 hospitalizations, 38 deaths; increase of 12 cases and three hospitalizations
• Stafford County: 1,691 cases, 136 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; increase of 10 cases

SEE ALSO:

• NoVA Coronavirus Hospitalizations Trending Up As Tidewater Falls
• Virginia Health Commissioner Plans To Mandate Coronavirus Vaccine
• VA Study To Examine Coronavirus Antibodies In Kids, Teens