1,224 Coronavirus Cases Tied To Virginia Meat, Poultry Plants

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Health reported 996 additional coronavirus cases and 17 new deaths on Tuesday. None of the new deaths were reported in Northern Virginia's localities. Statewide cumulative numbers are up to 101,745 cases, 8,458 hospitalizations, and 2,344 deaths.

On Tuesday, VDH added new data on outbreaks at Virginia's meat and poultry processing plants. To date, 1,224 cases have been identified amid 15 outbreaks. By region, 723 cases are in the eastern region, 456 are in the northwest, and 45 are in the central region. The majority of cases had been reported in April and May. There have been 49 hospitalizations and 10 deaths tied to the outbreaks.

Virginia's new cases on Tuesday include 270 in the eastern region, 238 in the central region, 227 in the northern region, 158 in the southwest region, and 103 in the northwest region. The 7-day average of cases in Eastern Virginia has been on the decline for several days after increases in July. The average became relatively stable in the latter part of July and is down to 316.3.

While new cases are similar among some regions, a drastic difference can be seen in current hospitalizations in Eastern Virginia. By region, there are 532 in the eastern region, 257 in the northern region, 210 in the central region, 182 in the southwest region, and 112 in the northwest region.

Statewide, hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients changed from 1,251 to 1,293 from Monday to Tuesday. That includes 148 patients on ventilators and 280 in the intensive care units. A total of 13,152 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals to date, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Ventilator use remains stable at 20 percent among all Virginia hospital patients, and ICU occupancy stands at 79 percent. The 2019 average for ICU occupancy in Virginia was 67 percent.

One hospital is still reporting difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment in the next 72 hours, and one reports difficulty obtaining other medical supplies. This is the fourth day in a row a hospital reported difficulty acquiring PPE.

The positive average of PCR tests remained in the 7-percent range through much of July into August. The latest statewide 7-day average was 7.5 percent on Aug. 7. The positive averages in the eastern, southwest and central regions are higher than the statewide average — 9.6 percent, 9 percent, and 7.8 percent, respectively. The averages in the northern and northwest regions are lower — 6.1 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively. As of Tuesday, 1,267,512 PCR tests have been performed in Virginia, an increase of 9,907 from Monday.

To date, there have been 8,505 cases and 1,280 cases associated with outbreaks in long-term care facilities. Numbers from specific long-term care facilities' outbreaks is provided on VDH's Long-Term Care Task Force website.

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

• Alexandria: 2,995 cases, 281 hospitalizations, 60 deaths; increase of 19 cases and three hospitalizations
• Arlington County: 3,105 cases, 437 hospitalizations, 135 deaths; increase of 14 cases
• Fairfax County: 16,544 cases, 1,941 hospitalizations, 529 deaths; increase of 99 cases and two hospitalizations
• Fairfax City: 91 cases, 11 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of one case
• Falls Church: 60 cases, nine hospitalizations, six deaths; one case removed
• Loudoun County: 5,346 cases, 352 hospitalizations, 115 deaths; increase of 40 cases and three hospitalizations
• Manassas: 1,666 cases, 123 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of four cases
• Manassas Park: 516 cases, 50 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of one case
• Prince William County: 9,566 cases, 804 hospitalizations, 176 deaths; increase of 50 cases, and two hospitalizations
• Fredericksburg: 406 cases, 43 hospitalizations, three deaths; three hospitalizations and one death removed
• Spotsylvania County: 1,514 cases, 97 hospitalizations, 36 deaths; increase of 15 cases, two hospitalizations and one death
• Stafford County: 1,405 cases, 121 hospitalizations, nine deaths; increase of 20 cases and one hospitalization

SEE ALSO:

• VA Officials Report Half The Coronavirus Cases From A Week Ago
• Coronavirus Cases Top 100K In Virginia, Positive Rate Up In SW
• Backlog Accounts For 2,015 New Coronavirus Cases In Virginia
• Coronavirus Exposure Notification App Launches In Virginia