First Vaccine Shipments Arrive In Virginia, Case Average Down

VIRGINIA — After emergency use approval from the FDA, the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Virginia on Monday.

Gov. Ralph Northam was on hand to welcome one of the first shipments in Virginia at a Bon Secours hospital in Richmond. Virginia is receiving an initial 72,150 doses Monday and Tuesday at health systems across the state. The first doses will be given to health care workers as early as Tuesday. Health care workers directly caring for COVID-19 patients will be given top priority for the first vaccines.

"These initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are a much-needed symbol of hope for our Commonwealth and our country," said Northam in a statement. "With this remarkable medical achievement, we are beginning to see the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel."

The vaccine was approved by the FDA on Friday, spurring the start of shipments to states. Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, another that applied for emergency use authorization, could get approval as soon as this week. The FDA released a briefing document indicating the Moderna vaccine is effective and safe. Both Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines require two doses.

The governor's office estimates Virginia health systems could receive 480,000 doses of vaccine from Pfizer and Moderna by the end of December. This initial allocation will cover nearly all health care personnel and long-term care facility residents, the top priority groups for the vaccine. The Virginia Department of Health estimates up to 500,000 individuals are in these priority groups.

The first distribution comes amid Virginia's recent increases in cases and hospitalizations. The statewide seven-day average of daily cases reached a peak of 3,920 on Dec. 12 before starting to decline. There were 3,160 new cases reported Tuesday, and the latest average is 3,654, according to Virginia Department of Health data.

Northern Virginia's regional average also took a downturn after reaching a peak of 1,124 on Dec. 12. On Tuesday, 733 new cases were reported, and the seven-day average is 985.

The state's seven-day average of positive PCR tests is 11.2 as of Dec. 12, and Northern Virginia's average is 11.4 percent. Virginia averages 26,952 PCR tests reported each day, and Northern Virginia alone has an average of 7,150.

Current COVID-19 hospitalizations reached a new high of 2,361. This includes 490 in the intensive care units and 240 on ventilators. The northern region accounts for 585 current hospitalizations, including 110 in the ICUs and 56 on ventilators.

An analysis by the nonprofit Covid Act Now on Monday indicated Virginia has enough ICU beds to handle a surge for now. According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 32 percent capacity, and ICU occupancy is at 77 percent. The 2019 average for ICU occupancy was 67 percent. No hospitals have reported difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment in the next 72 hours since Sept. 18.

There were 56 deaths reported in the last day, and the seven-day average of daily death reports is 30. According to VDH's deaths by date on the death certificate data, the days with the highest numbers of deaths so far are in late April and early May. The peak seven-day average was 40.1 on May 5. Data may be incomplete for the most recent weeks.

While Northam expressed optimism about the vaccine's arrival, he said residents must continue to take safety precautions. The governor's new restrictions took effect Monday, including new statewide curfew from midnight to 5 a.m., expanding the mask requirement to outdoor public areas where social distancing cannot be maintained, and lowering the limit on social gatherings to 10 people.

"We must remember that this is the first step in a months-long process to receive, distribute, and administer the vaccine as it becomes available," said Northam. "I ask everyone to stay vigilant, take care of each other, and continue following the public health guidelines as we work to vaccinate Virginians in a safe, efficient, equitable manner."

Below are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area from Monday to Tuesday:

• Alexandria: 6,315 cases, 398 hospitalizations, 82 deaths; increase of 55 cases and two hospitalizations
• Arlington County: 7,525 cases, 615 hospitalizations, 164 deaths; increase of 62 cases and three hospitalizations
• Fairfax County: 37,386 cases, 2,698 hospitalizations, 647 deaths; increase of 329 cases, seven hospitalizations, and six deaths
• Fairfax City: 246 cases, 21 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; increase of five cases
• Falls Church: 147 cases, 16 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of five cases
• Loudoun County: 12,029 cases, 595 hospitalizations, 154 deaths; increase of 92 cases, 11 hospitalizations and three deaths
• Manassas: 2,600 cases, 154 hospitalizations, 29 deaths; increase of 14 cases, one hospitalization and one death
• Manassas Park: 828 cases, 62 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of 12 cases
• Prince William County: 21,431 cases, 1,148 hospitalizations, 244 deaths; increase of 159 cases, three hospitalizations and two deaths
• Fredericksburg: 853 cases, 59 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of 15 cases, one hospitalization and one death
• Spotsylvania County: 3,818 cases, 190 hospitalizations, 58 deaths; increase of 32 cases and two hospitalizations
• Stafford County: 4,145 cases, 212 hospitalizations, 23 deaths; increase of 40 cases, two hospitalizations and one death