Over 9,900 New Coronavirus Cases Reported In Virginia

Emily Leayman
·3 min read

VIRGINIA — As Virginia marked the first months of COVID-19 vaccines being administered, coronavirus case and hospitalizations continue to rise.

The state saw a record-high 9,914 daily case count on Sunday. That comes after a previous record of 6,757 cases was reported on Saturday. The seven-day average of daily cases is 5,778.

The increase is driven by a large spike in Fairfax County and Prince William County. Fairfax County reported 1,485 new cases, compared to a seven-day average of 697 daily cases. Prince William County had 1,356 new cases amid a seven-day average of 444.

With two counties reporting record-high cases, Northern Virginia had a significantly higher daily case count than previous days — 3,678. The region's seven-day average of daily cases is 1,553. Other new cases by locality include 392 in Loudoun County, 98 in Alexandria, 157 in Arlington County, 141 in Manassas, 26 in Falls Church, 12 in Fairfax City and 11 in Manassas Park.

The central region also had a new high of 2,107 cases compared to a seven-day average of 1,042 cases. Other regions had daily cases similar to past days: 1,784 in the eastern region, 1,328 in the southwest region and 1,017 in the northwest region.

Current COVID-19 hospitalizations stand at 3,058 statewide, according to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. This includes 566 in the intensive care units and 339 on ventilators.

Statewide, the seven-day average of positive PCR tests is 14.2 percent as of Jan. 13. In the early days of 2021, the average climbed above 17 percent. While the positive average had been below 10 percent for the summer into the fall, significant increases started in late November. The seven-day average of daily testing encounters is 33,562 as of Jan. 13.

On the vaccination front, 283,342 people have at least one dose and 33,470 are fully vaccinated in Virginia. To date, 943,400 doses have been distributed in Virginia. Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines require two doses, with the second dose taken three to four weeks after the first.

Last week, Gov. Ralph Northam said Virginia would expand Phase 1b of its coronavirus vaccination program so all residents age 65 and older and those between ages 16 and 64 with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, heart conditions and obesity — would be moved into Phase 1b. Residents should check with their local health department on registering to be notified when vaccination appointments become available.

Northam tweeted Sunday that Virginia and other states are seeing an "alarming rise" in cases and hospitalizations. He said until the vaccine becomes widely available, Virginians should "must continue to treat this virus like the dangerous threat that it is." The governor continues to urge the following guidelines: wearing a mask, washing hands, avoiding large gatherings, practicing physical distancing and staying home when possible.

Below are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area from Saturday to Sunday:

  • Alexandria: 8,612 cases, 466 hospitalizations, 95 deaths; increase of 98 cases and two hospitalizations

  • Arlington County: 10,677 cases, 708 hospitalizations, 188 deaths; increase of 157 cases, 19 hospitalizations and one death

  • Fairfax County: 53,976 cases, 3,139 hospitalizations, 732 deaths; increase of 1,485 cases and three hospitalizations

  • Fairfax City: 369 cases, 25 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; increase of 12 cases

  • Falls Church: 242 cases, 18 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of 26 cases

  • Loudoun County: 16,637 cases, 687 hospitalizations, 168 deaths; increase of 392 cases and three hospitalizations

  • Manassas: 3,389 cases, 149 hospitalizations, 29 deaths; increase of 141 cases

  • Manassas Park: 1,024 cases, 66 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of five cases

  • Prince William County: 31,379 cases, 1,278 hospitalizations, 276 deaths; increase of 1,356 cases and one hospitalization

  • Fredericksburg: 1,265 cases, 69 hospitalizations, 13 deaths; increase of 27 cases

  • Spotsylvania County: 6,007 cases, 230 hospitalizations, 74 deaths; increase of 81 cases

  • Stafford County: 6,636 cases, 252 hospitalizations, 34 deaths; increase of 101 cases

This article originally appeared on the Kingstowne-Rose Hill Patch