NoVA's Expansion Of Vaccine Eligibility Lags Behind Other Regions

VIRGINIA — Health districts in the Richmond area moved into phase 2 of COVID-19 vaccinations on Friday, while Northern Virginia jurisdictions remained in the final stage of phase 1.

Richmond and Henrico Health Districts, the Chesterfield Health District, and the Chickahominy Health District in central Virginia all moved into phase 2, making all people 16 and over eligible for a vaccine shot.

The health districts said they will continue to prioritize people in phase 1 as they move into phase 2. They also plan to focus on equity and reaching out to vulnerable populations.

Northern Virginia is trailing the central part of the state in getting people vaccinated. Most of the region remains in phase 1, with this week marking the start of phase 1c scheduling for certain health districts. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said every health district in the state should open eligibility to anyone 16 and up by April 18.

On Friday, the Virginia Department of Health reported that 1,683,673 Virginians, or 19.7 percent of the state's population, were fully vaccinated. According to VDH data, 4,514,282 total doses have been administered, with 2,976,005 people, or 34.9 percent of the state's population, receiving at least their first dose.

The seven-day average on Friday was 77,411 doses administered in Virginia.

Local health departments lead the state with 1,349,383 total doses given, followed by 1,097,966 given at pharmacies. Hospitals have administered a total of 886,285 vaccines. Medical practices are next with 672,943 doses administered followed by community health providers at 507,705.

The VDH reported a 6.3-percent coronavirus positivity rate on Friday from tests performed on residents over the past seven days. The positive rate is far below the 2021 high of 17.4 percent reported on Jan. 3 by the VDH.

Since the start of the pandemic, the all-time high of the seven-day coronavirus positivity rate was 20.2 percent on April 20, 2020.

SEE ALSO: How To Get The COVID-19 Vaccine In Virginia

On average, 17,653 daily PCR testing encounters were reported statewide on April 5, down from a peak of 35,034 on Jan. 14.

On Friday, 1,542 additional COVID-19 cases were reported by the VDH, and the seven-day average of daily cases was 1,469. Northern Virginia accounted for 468 new cases on Friday and has a seven-day average of 427 daily cases.

An additional 15 COVID-19 deaths were reported Friday, bringing the death total to 10,451. Virginia's COVID-19 hospitalizations stand at 1,106 statewide as of Friday. The current count includes 241 patients in intensive care units and 125 on ventilators.

Ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 28 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 78 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

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

• Alexandria: 11,216 cases, 540 hospitalizations, 130 deaths; increase of 44 cases, three hospitalizations and one death
• Arlington County: 14,593 cases, 812 hospitalizations, 249 deaths; increase of 57 cases and one hospitalization
• Fairfax County: 72,948 cases, 3,780 hospitalizations, 1,051 deaths; increase of 167 cases, 11 hospitalizations and two deaths
• Fairfax City: 528 cases, 46 hospitalizations, 18 deaths; one case removed, increase of one hospitalization
• Falls Church: 404 cases, 20 hospitalizations, nine deaths; increase of one case
• Loudoun County: 26,012 cases, 965 hospitalizations, 273 deaths; increase of 115 cases and two hospitalizations
• Manassas: 4,220 cases, 169 hospitalizations, 45 deaths; one case removed
• Manassas Park: 1,176 cases, 68 hospitalizations, 12 deaths; increase of one case
• Prince William County: 42,913 cases, 1,554 hospitalizations, 476 deaths; increase of 85 cases, two hospitalizations and two deaths
• Fredericksburg: 1,931 cases, 97 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of one hospitalization
• Spotsylvania County: 9,091 cases, 296 hospitalizations, 109 deaths; increase of 30 cases and two hospitalizations
• Stafford County: 10,418 cases, 339 hospitalizations, 71 deaths; increase of 25 cases