Virginia COVID-19 Hospitalizations At Lowest Level In Five Months

VIRGINIA — As the seven-day average for coronavirus cases in Virginia increases slightly, the hospitalization of residents with COVID-19 continues to decline.

As of Saturday, COVID-19-related hospitalizations stood at 977, the lowest hospitalization level since Oct. 20, according to Virginia Department of Health data. In Northern Virginia, COVID-19 hospitalizations totaled 195 on Saturday, the lowest number of hospitalizations since Oct. 5.

The seven-day average of COVID-19-related hospitalization was 1,039.9, as of Saturday, the lowest average since Nov. 6. The highest seven-day average of hospitalizations since the start of the pandemic was recorded on Jan. 18 when the average stood at 3,290.9.

The current count of 977 hospitalizations includes 222 patients in intensive care units and 124 on ventilators. Ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 30 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 77 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

The VDH reported that 1,563 new coronavirus cases were reported on Saturday, lifting the seven-day average of daily cases to 1,455. The seven-day average is increasing again after reaching a 2021 low of 1,287 on Tuesday. In Northern Virginia, 430 new cases of the coronavirus were reported on Saturday.

Vaccine Doses Administered Surpass 3 Million

On Saturday, Virginia surpassed 3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered. The VDH reported that 3,014,056 vaccine doses have been given to residents since December. There are 1,997,951 people with at least one dose, or 23.4 percent of the state's population.

As of Saturday, 1,092,681 Virginians, or 12.8 percent of the state's population, are fully vaccinated.

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

The state is averaging 46,107 doses administered per day. Local health departments lead the state with 961,372 total doses given, followed by hospitals with 740,598 total doses. Pharmacies have administered a total of 584,404 vaccines. Medical practices are next with 435,399 doses administered followed by community health providers at 292,283.

COVID-19 Data

Twelve new deaths were reported in Virginia on Saturday. The increase in deaths followed a net decrease of 90 deaths reported Friday by the VDH. The health department attributed the lowering of the number of deaths to a review it conducted of mortality rates attributed to COVID-19.

A total of 10,104 Virginians have died from COVID-19 as of Saturday, according to the records.

The seven-day average of positive PCR tests is 5.5 percent as of March 16. The current positive rate is similar to the level last seen in late October before the winter surge in cases.

On average, 19,698 daily PCR testing encounters were reported statewide on March 16, down from a peak of 35,031 on Jan. 14.

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

• Alexandria: 10,740 cases, 523 hospitalizations, 128 deaths; increase of 41 cases and two hospitalizations
• Arlington County: 13,856 cases, 790 hospitalizations, 242 deaths; increase of 45 cases
• Fairfax County: 69,708 cases, 3,635 hospitalizations, 1,035 deaths; increase of 194 cases and two hospitalizations
• Fairfax City: 508 cases, 40 hospitalizations, 17 deaths; increase of one death
• Falls Church: 371 cases, 20 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; no changes
• Loudoun County: 24,491 cases, 922 hospitalizations, 263 deaths; increase of 57 cases, four hospitalizations and one death
• Manassas: 4,114 cases, 166 hospitalizations, 45 deaths; increase of seven cases
• Manassas Park: 1,149 cases, 67 hospitalizations, 12 deaths; increase of two cases
• Prince William County: 40,969 cases, 1,494 hospitalizations, 469 deaths; increase of 84 cases
• Fredericksburg: 1,835 cases, 94 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of five cases
• Spotsylvania County: 8,616 cases, 286 hospitalizations, 107 deaths; increase of 18 cases
• Stafford County: 9,915 cases, 333 hospitalizations, 68 deaths; increase of 24 cases