NoVA Hospitalizations Climb To Highest Level Since Early June

Mark Hand
·3 min read

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Health reported 2,023 new coronavirus cases Thursday, down slightly from the 2,417 cases reported Wednesday and lowering the seven-day average of daily cases to 2,229. That is down from a peak average of 2,592 on Sunday.

On Thursday, each of the five regions in Virginia reported new cases below their seven-day average. New cases by region included 628 in the northern region (648.7 seven-day average), 450 in the southwest region (480.1 seven-day average), 366 in the northwest region (411.7 seven-day average), 291 in the central region (307.1 seven-day average) and 288 in the eastern region (381.3 seven-day average).

Statewide, there are 1,853 current COVID-19 patients, down slightly from the 1,860 people hospitalized on Wednesday. Of these, 186 patients are on ventilators, and 411 are in the intensive care units.

Hospitalizations by region include 521 in Northern Virginia, the highest number of COVID-19 patients in the region since early June. Elsewhere in the state, 382 people were hospitalized in the southwest region on Thursday, 337 in the eastern region, 315 in the central region and 298 in the northwest region.

On Wednesday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said at a news conference that an estimated 70,000 doses of a coronavirus vaccine would be in the first wave of Pfizer vaccines sent to Virginia.

The governor said Virginia will be following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention policy for distribution of vaccines to priority groups. On Tuesday, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to make the first priority group health care workers and long-term care facility residents.

SEE ALSO: Initial 70K Doses Of Pfizer's Vaccine Expected In Virginia

As of Nov. 29, the seven-day positive average of tests in Virginia was 8.8 percent. Regional averages were 12.8 percent in the southwest region, 8.7 percent in the northern region, 8.1 percent in the eastern region, 7.8 in the northwest region and 7.2 percent in the central region. Statewide, the seven-day average of daily PCR tests reported is 21,964.

Ventilator use among all hospital patients in Virginia is at 29 percent, while ICU occupancy is at 79 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. The 2019 average for ICU occupancy was 67 percent. When including 886 ICU surge beds, statewide ICU occupancy is at 53 percent.

According to VDH data, no Virginia hospitals have reported difficulty obtaining PPE since Sept. 18.

There were 34 new coronavirus deaths reported by VDH on Thursday, and the seven-day average of daily death reports is 16.9. The cumulative totals of deaths is 4,147, while there have been 244,503 cases and 15,014 hospitalizations to date.

Below are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area from Wednesday to Thursday:

  • Alexandria: 5,479 cases, 373 hospitalizations, 79 deaths; increase of 32 cases, three hospitalizations and two deaths

  • Arlington County: 6,472 cases, 593 hospitalizations, 157 deaths; increase of 55 cases

  • Fairfax County: 31,915 cases, 2,594 hospitalizations, 624 deaths; increase of 254 cases and 14 hospitalizations

  • Fairfax City: 213 cases, 18 hospitalizations, nine deaths; increase of one case

  • Falls Church: 112 cases, 15 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of three cases

  • Loudoun County: 10,376 cases, 567 hospitalizations, 150 deaths; increase of 74 cases, one hospitalization and six deaths

  • Manassas: 2,344 cases, 139 hospitalizations, 28 deaths; increase of 13 cases

  • Manassas Park: 740 cases, 62 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of six cases

  • Prince William County: 18,852 cases, 1,099 hospitalizations, 235 deaths; increase of 190 cases and five hospitalizations

  • Fredericksburg: 717 cases, 57 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of six cases

  • Spotsylvania County: 3,248 cases, 183 hospitalizations, 58 deaths; increase of 30 cases and two hospitalizations

  • Stafford County: 3,388 cases, 198 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of 22 cases

This article originally appeared on the Woodbridge Patch