Coronavirus Case Average, Hospitalizations Tick Up In VA

VIRGINIA — With what health experts have said is a surge fueled by Thanksgiving gatherings, the seven-day average of new coronavirus cases ticked up Monday in Virginia. Also, the average of current hospitalizations remains on the rise.

On Monday, 4,042 new cases were reported by the Virginia Department of Health, an increase of 166 from Sunday. The latest seven-day average of daily cases is 3,677, up 14 from 24 hours earlier but down from a peak of 3,920 on Dec. 12. Northern Virginia's seven-day average is 883, down from a peak 1,124 on Dec. 12.

Sunday's new cases by region include 1,203 in the northern region, 847 in the eastern region, 724 in the southwest region, 577 in the central region and 525 in the northwest region.

The last week brought the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to Virginia and other states for the first people to be vaccinated. The first shipments went to 18 hospitals across the state, with 72,125 doses being dispersed to frontline healthcare workers. On Friday, the FDA also granted emergency use authorization to Moderna's vaccine, clearing the way for it to be distributed to states.

Based on information from Operation Warp Speed, Virginia Department of Health was expecting to receive 480,000 doses of vaccine from two manufacturers, Pfizer and Moderna, in December. But on Thursday the state received updated estimates, indicating it would receive 370,650 doses instead this month, according to a VDH news release.

Hospitals continue to face increasing current patients, although capacity remains sufficient. There are 2,442 current COVID-19 patients, up 37 from the day before, and the seven-day average is 2,339, a decline from the highest average of 2,368.3.

The current patients include 530 in the intensive care units and 282 on ventilators.

According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 33 percent capacity, with 987 of the 3,015 available in use. ICU occupancy is at 80 percent, while the 2019 ICU occupancy average was 67 percent. There have been no hospitals reporting difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment within 72 hours since Sept. 18.

As of Dec. 21, the state's seven-day average of positive PCR tests is 11.4 percent. It's been in that 11 percent range for most of December.

There were four new deaths reported on Monday, and the seven-day average of new daily death reports is 33. Cumulative numbers in Virginia stand at 310,890 cases, 16,948 hospitalizations and 4,654 deaths.

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

• Alexandria: 6,717 cases, 413 hospitalizations, 83 deaths; increase of 57 cases
• Arlington County: 8,054 cases, 643 hospitalizations, 169 deaths; increase of 121 cases, nine hospitalizations, one death
• Fairfax County: 40,121 cases, 2,780 hospitalizations, 654 deaths; increase of 897 cases, nine hospitalizations
• Fairfax City: 277 cases, 24 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; increase of 11 cases
• Falls Church: 153 cases, 16 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of six cases
• Loudoun County: 12,861 cases, 621 hospitalizations, 155 deaths; increase of 179 cases, 1 hospitalization
• Manassas: 2,688 cases, 145 hospitalizations, 29 deaths; increase of 20 cases
• Manassas Park: 860 cases, 62 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of three cases
• Prince William County: 22,734 cases, 1,179 hospitalizations, 247 deaths; increase of 142 cases and one hospitalization
• Fredericksburg: 932 cases, 62 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of 23 cases
• Spotsylvania County: 4,121 cases, 201 hospitalizations, 66 deaths; increase of three cases, one hospitalization
• Stafford County: 4,520 cases, 218 hospitalizations, 23 deaths; increase of 149 cases