Virginia Coronavirus Update: 4,147 New Positive Cases, 62 Deaths

Jeff Arnold
·4 min read

VIRGINIA — The number of new coronavirus cases reported across the state remained lower than in previous days after Virginia Department of Health officials announced 4,147 positive cases on Friday, which was down for the second straight day after the daily case average rose above 6,000 earlier in the week.

The seven-day average of cases has jumped in the last few days, largely due to three days of the highest daily totals for Virginia — 6,757 on Saturday, Jan. 16, 9,914 on Sunday, Jan. 17, and 7,245 on Monday, Jan. 18. Sunday's record-high number was driven a spike in two counties: 1,485 new cases in Fairfax County and 1,356 in Prince William County.

On some days, the eastern region has surpassed Northern Virginia for the most cases. Thursday's new cases by region include 1,268 in the eastern region, 684 in the northern region, 641 in the central region, 582 in the northwest region, and 838 in the southwest region.

Current COVID-19 hospitalizations are slightly down but remain higher than any total in previous months. As of Friday, there are 2,972 patients, including 509 in the intensive care units and 332 on ventilators. There are 1,033 ventilators currently in use in hospitals across the state, which represents 35 percent of capacity.

The positive rate of tests is on the decline while total daily testing encounters have increased to an average over 30,000 in the new year. As of Jan. 17, the seven-day average is 13.2 percent. It has been decreasing since surpassing 17 percent in the early days of 2021. The average of daily testing encounters (both positive and negative) is 5,574. The eastern region leads with a positive average of 17.4 percent, followed by the southwest region with 14.6 percent, northern region with 12.7 percent, central region with 11.6 percent and northwest region with 10.6 percent.

As the United States surpassed 400,000 deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday, Virginia accounts for 6,002 as of Friday. There were 62 new deaths reported in the last day. The age group breakdown of deaths to date is 2,974 for ages 80 and up; 1,549 for the 70s; 912 for the 60s; 377 for the 50s; 118 for the 40s; 48 for the 30s; 11 for the 20s, and one for the 10s.

Virginia is more than a month into COVID-19 vaccinations for its first priority groups and averages 19,405 doses administered per day. As of Friday, 376,823 people have had at least one dose and 48,034 are fully vaccinated in Virginia. To date, 1,010,150 doses have been distributed in Virginia. VDH cautions that vaccine administrations may take up to 72 hours to be reported.

Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines require two doses, with the second dose taken three to four weeks after the first. Eligible groups in phases 1a and 1b should seek information on vaccinations in their local health district.

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

  • Alexandria: 8,975 cases, 483 hospitalizations, 99 deaths; increase of 58 cases, one hospitalization, and two deaths

  • Arlington County: 11,006 cases, 714 hospitalizations, 196 deaths; increase of 52 cases, two hospitalizations and one death

  • Fairfax County: 55,846 cases, 3,180 hospitalizations, 749 deaths; increase of 251 cases, 17 hospitalizations and seven deaths

  • Fairfax City: 382 cases, 27 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; increase of two cases

  • Falls Church: 256 cases, 18 hospitalization, six deaths; increase of nine cases

  • Loudoun County: 17,809 cases, 717 hospitalizations, 171 deaths; increase of 238 cases, two hospitalizations.

  • Manassas: 3,500 cases, 151 hospitalizations, 32 deaths; increase of 25 cases, 2 deaths

  • Manassas Park: 1,050 cases, 66 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of five cases

  • Prince William County: 32,874 cases, 1,287 hospitalizations, 283 deaths; increase of 283 cases, three hospitalizations, and one death

  • Fredericksburg: 1,364 cases, 71 hospitalizations, 14 deaths; increase of 13 cases

  • Spotsylvania County: 6,457 cases, 234 hospitalizations, 76 deaths; increase of 61 cases and one death

  • Stafford County: 7,080 cases, 261 hospitalizations, 41 deaths; increase of 88 cases, four hospitalizations and five deaths

This article originally appeared on the Fredericksburg Patch