NoVA Study To Examine Coronavirus Antibodies In Kids, Teens

VIRGINIA — As new coronavirus cases continue to be reported daily, the Virginia Department of Health will study coronavirus antibodies in children and teens. The pediatric coronavirus disease serology study will take place in Northern Virginia in collaboration with Inova Health System.

According to a news release from Gov. Ralph Northam, an estimated 2.4 percent of adults in Virginia have antibodies to the coronavirus. The pediatric study will look at the proportion of children and teens with these antibodies.

"The Commonwealth’s low exposure rate among adults is a testament to Virginians’ sacrifice and dedication in battling this virus," said Northam in a statement. "But as a pediatrician, I know children are often impacted by disease in a different way than adults. These studies provide key insight into how COVID-19 spreads among different ages and demographics groups. With this information, we are one step closer to beating this virus."

Northern Virginia was chosen as the study location based on the number of pediatric races in the region, as well as diversity in ethnicities, race, and socioeconomic status. According to VDH data, there are 3,665 total cases in the 0 to 9 age group and 8,168 in the 10 to 19 age group.

Inova Children's Hospital will recruit up to 1,000 participants between ages 0 and 19 who get care at participating clinical sites. The participants' blood samples will be tested for coronavirus antibodies, which indicate that a person had the virus in the past.

Inova Children’s Hospital will recruit up to 1,000 participants aged 0 - 19-years-old who live in Northern Virginia and seek care at participating clinical sites. Participants’ blood samples will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies, which indicate that a person had a COVID-19 infection in the past.

VDH will estimate the total number of children and teenagers infected with the virus in Northern Virginia and statewide based on study results. There will also be analysis on children's risk factors for infection, including age, underlying health conditions, sociodemographic characteristics, history of infection within households and childcare exposures.

Preliminary results could come in mid-September.

The adult study was started during June in partnership with the University of Virginia, Inova Health System, Virginia Commonwealth University, Sentara Healthcare and Carilion Clinic. An initial analysis of 3,113 participants estimates that 2.4 percent of adults statewide have antibodies to the virus. By region, that estimation is 4.2 percent in the northern region, 3 percent in the central region, 1.5 percent in the eastern region, 1 percent in the southwest region and 0.9 percent in the northwest region.

There is a greater prevalence of antibodies among Hispanic adults (14.4 percent) than non-Hispanic adults (1.1 percent). Among age groups, the highest prevalence is among adults under 50. There is a lower prevalence of antibodies among those with a health condition putting them at higher risk — 1.5 percent compared to 3 percent for those without.

More analysis on the adult study is expected in September.

The Latest Numbers

On Thursday, 1,101 additional coronavirus cases and 11 deaths were reported. Cumulative numbers stand at 103,622 cases, 8,592 hospitalizations, and 2,363 deaths, according to VDH.

New cases include 363 in the eastern region, 220 in the southwest region, 208 in the northern region, 154 in the central region and 156 in the northwest region. The statewide 7-day average of positive tests is 7.3 percent as of Aug. 9. There have been 1,301,909 PCR tests completed in Virginia, an increase of 18,500 from Wednesday.

According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, 1,258 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized, down from 1,281 on Wednesday. That number includes 141 patients on ventilators and 289 in the intensive care units. A total of 13,389 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals to date.

Here are the latest case updates for our coverage areas between Tuesday and Wednesday:

• Alexandria: 3,020 cases, 281 hospitalizations, 60 deaths; increase of six cases
• Arlington County: 3,134 cases, 437 hospitalizations, 135 deaths; increase of 16 cases
• Fairfax County: 16,703 cases, 1,955 hospitalizations, 530 deaths; increase of 61 cases, two hospitalizations and one death
• Fairfax City: 92 cases, 11 hospitalizations, seven deaths; no change
• Falls Church: 63 cases, nine hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of two cases
• Loudoun County: 5,403 cases, 356 hospitalizations, 115 deaths; increase of 31 cases and three hospitalizations
• Manassas: 1,679 cases, 124 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of nine cases, one death removed
• Manassas Park: 520 cases, 50 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of two cases
• Prince William County: 9,686 cases, 812 hospitalizations, 178 deaths; increase of 9,605 cases, 804 hospitalizations, 176 deaths; increase of 81 cases, eight hospitalizations and two deaths
• Fredericksburg: 421 cases, 44 hospitalizations, four deaths; increase of seven cases
• Spotsylvania County: 1,570 cases, 99 hospitalizations, 35 deaths; increase of 34 cases and one hospitalization
• Stafford County: 1,446 cases, 123 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; increase of 22 cases, one hospitalization and one death