VA Passes 1 Million Fully Vaccinated Mark As Positive Rate Falls

VIRGINIA — The number of fully vaccinated people in Virginia surpassed the 1 million mark on Monday, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

As of Monday, 1,010,519 Virginians, or 11.9 percent of the state's population, are fully vaccinated. The VDH also reported that 2,740,975 vaccine doses have been administered in Virginia. There are 1,796,749 people with at least one dose, or 21.1 percent of the state's population.

The state is averaging 52,898 doses administered per day. Local health departments lead the state with 878,756 total doses given, followed by hospitals with 699,986 total doses, medical practices with 365,511, long-term care facilities with 308,616, community health providers with 258,034 and pharmacies with 230,072.

Virginia is "in a really good place in terms of looking at the pace” of vaccinations, State Vaccine Coordinator Dr. Danny Avula said Friday in a weekly VDH teleconference call.

Given the improving pace of vaccinations, Avula expects every Virginian who wants a COVID-19 vaccine will be eligible before the end of April and should be able to get at least their first dose by the end of May.

Avula said Virginia will easily meet President Joe Biden’s goal for every American to be eligible for a vaccine by May 1, based on the state’s supply, demand and vaccination pace.

Avula added that it is realistic Virginia will fully open up to Phase 1c in mid-April and that some parts of the state could hit that mark even sooner.

Phase 1b includes front-line essential workers, people 65 and older, people 16 to 64 with a high-risk medical condition or disability, and people living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and migrant labor camps.

Gov. Northam Receives Vaccine

On Monday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and his wife Pamela Northam received the COVID-19 vaccine. Both the governor and his wife were given the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The governor's office allowed the administration of the vaccines to be broadcast live.

Last September, Northam and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus after a member of the governor's residence staff also tested positive. Both experienced only mild symptoms during their time in quarantine.

“Virginia continues to scale up our vaccination capacity to match the increased vaccine supply we are receiving from the federal government each week," Northam said Monday in a statement. "Pam and I are thrilled to do our part by getting vaccinated, and I hope every Virginian will do the same when their turn comes.”

A community vaccination clinic opened in Danville on Monday as part of a partnership between the state, localities and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Two additional community vaccination clinics will begin this week in Petersburg and Portsmouth, and one in Prince William County is scheduled to open next week. These clinics will be by appointment-only.

COVID-19 Data

On Monday, 1,130 new cases were reported, putting the seven-day average of daily cases to 1,325, similar to the average in early November when cases began to surge.

Current hospitalizations stand at 1,011, the lowest count since Oct. 24, according to VDH data. The number includes 217 patients in the intensive care units and 131 on ventilators.

Ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 30 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 75 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

RELATED: How To Get The COVID-19 Vaccine In Virginia

As reported by the Virginia Department of Health, 10,060 COVID-19 deaths have been recorded to date. Monday's count includes 41 new deaths. On Sunday, the VDH reported that the state has surpassed 10,000 deaths since the start of the health crisis.

The seven-day average of positive PCR tests is 5.4 percent as of March 11, down from 5.5 percent on March 10. The current positive rate is similar to the level last seen in late October before the winter surge in cases.

On average, 18,387 daily PCR testing encounters were reported statewide on March 11, down from a peak of 35,031 on Jan. 14.

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

• Alexandria: 10,592 cases, 521 hospitalizations, 128 deaths; increase of 22 cases and two hospitalizations
• Arlington County: 13,655 cases, 781 hospitalizations, 242 deaths; increase of 17 cases
• Fairfax County: 68,755 cases, 3,594 hospitalizations, 1,032 deaths; increase of 114 cases, seven hospitalizations and three deaths
• Fairfax City: 506 cases, 39 hospitalizations, 16 deaths; no changes
• Falls Church: 367 cases, 20 hospitalizations, nine deaths; increase of one case
• Loudoun County: 23,986 cases, 906 hospitalizations, 264 deaths; increase of 58 cases and two hospitalizations
• Manassas: 4,067 cases, 165 hospitalizations, 44 deaths; increase of two cases and one death
• Manassas Park: 1,139 cases, 67 hospitalizations, 12 deaths; increase of three cases and one hospitalization
• Prince William County: 40,483 cases, 1,473 hospitalizations, 469 deaths; increase of 71 cases
• Fredericksburg: 1,818 cases, 93 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of one case
• Spotsylvania County: 8,562 cases, 286 hospitalizations, 106 deaths; increase of 11 cases
• Stafford County: 9,843 cases, 333 hospitalizations, 70 deaths; increase of 15 cases

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