VA's Eastern Region Sees New High Of Coronavirus Hospitalizations
VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Health reported 999 additional coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing cumulative cases to 87,993. Northern Virginia accounted for 182 of these new cases, or 18 percent. Virginia's cumulative total of deaths is 2,125, and 7,738 hospitalizations have been reported throughout the pandemic.
On Tuesday, Gov. Ralph Northam announced new restrictions will be placed on Hampton Roads localities in light of increasing new cases, hospitalizations and positive tests. The restrictions, which include a 50-person social gathering limit and indoor dining at 50-percent capacity, will take effect on Friday, July 31. These restrictions will only apply to Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Williamsburg, Newport News, Poquoson, James City County, and York County.
Hampton Roads' seven major cities accounted for 408 of the state's 999 new cases on Wednesday. This included 123 in Norfolk, 120 in Virginia Beach, 72 in Chesapeake, 30 in Newport News, 25 in Hampton, 23 in Portsmouth, and 15 in Suffolk.
The statewide 7-day moving average of cases declined in the past two days after increases in much of July. The latest average is 1,086 cases, compared to Virginia's peak average of 1,195 cases on May 31.
Current hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients are up to 1,350 from 1,294 on Tuesday. The breakdown by health region is: 554 in the eastern region, 278 in the central region, 245 in the northern region, 168 in the southwest, and 105 in the northwest. Wednesday's numbers marked new highs of COVID-19 patients in the eastern and southwest regions. Northern Virginia's hospitalizations, however, are more than three times lower than the peak in late April.
According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, 11,650 COVID-19 patients have been discharged, up 100 from Tuesday.
Among all hospital patients, intensive care unit occupancy is at 79 percent, compared to Virginia's 2019 average of 67 percent. Ventilator usage is at 22 percent statewide. No hospitals are experiencing difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment or other medical supplies in the next 72 hours.
The 7-day average of positive tests was 7.1 percent as of July 25, down from 7.3 percent on July 24. As of Wednesday, 1,073,463 nasal swab tests have been completed in Virginia, an increase of 17,315 tests from Tuesday.
Here are the latest case updates for our coverage areas from Monday to Tuesday:
Alexandria: 2,759 cases, 266 hospitalizations, 57 deaths; increase of 10 cases
Arlington County: 2,857 cases, 431 hospitalizations, 135 deaths; increase of 14 cases
Fairfax County: 15,570 cases, 1,867 hospitalizations, 519 deaths; increase of 61 cases and nine hospitalizations
Fairfax City: 79 cases, 10 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of two cases
Falls Church: 54 cases, 10 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of one case
Loudoun County: 4,965 cases, 328 hospitalizations, 109 deaths; increase of 26 cases and one death
Manassas: 1,586 cases, 118 hospitalizations, 20 deaths; increase of two cases
Manassas Park: 493 cases, 50 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of five cases
Prince William County: 8,724 cases, 769 hospitalizations, 168 deaths; increase of 61 cases, three hospitalizations and one death
Fredericksburg: 340 cases, 38 hospitalizations, two deaths; increase of two cases
Spotsylvania County: 1,271 cases, 91 hospitalizations, 33 deaths; increase of 17 cases
Stafford County: 1,227 cases, 115 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of 13 cases
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This article originally appeared on the Del Ray Patch
