Virginia Daily Coronavirus Count Hovers Around 4K, New High

VIRGINIA — After a high of 4,078 new cases of coronavirus on Friday, the third straight day with more than 4,000, the state confirmed 1,584 new coronavirus cases on Saturday.

Ahead of Christmas, Gov. Ralph Northam, along with state and national health officials, urged Virginians to stay home and limit their holiday gatherings to their immediate household.

"Let's spread holiday cheer, not #COVID19," he tweeted on Christmas Eve. "Whether you are celebrating virtually instead of traveling, setting your holiday table a little smaller, or giving what you can to help those in need this holiday season, thank you for doing your part to keep your fellow Virginians safe."

After Thanksgiving the number of coronavirus cases surged in the Commonwealth, so cases could jump again in the coming week.

Saturday's numbers includes 532 in the intensive care units and 290 on ventilators. Northern Virginia's current patients stand at 627; the peak had been 818 patients on April 30.

The Virginia Department of Health reported a total of 49 new deaths related to COVID-19 on Friday and Saturday, with seven of those in Northern Virginia: five in Fairfax County, and one apiece in Alexandria and Manassas, Inside NOVA reported.

Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine were delivered last week in Virginia, a week after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine rolled out to be administered to the first people.

Estimates provided by the federal government's Operation Warp Speed indicate Virginia will receive a weekly 50,000 doses from Pfizer and 50,000 from Moderna for the next few weeks. The actual total is a moving target and depends on how quickly vaccine doses are manufactured.

The first doses have gone to health care personnel at health-care systems across Virginia. These health-care workers, as well as long-term care facility residents and staff, are in the group1a priority group for the vaccine as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Virginia Department of Health.

Many Virginia long-term care facilities signed onto the federal program for vaccinations and will receive on-site vaccinations from CVS and Walgreens starting the week of Dec. 28. CVS shared its plans for pharmacy staff to make three visits to each facility to give vaccinations, and 874 Virginia facilities will participate.

A record-high 4,652 cases were reported by the VDH on Wednesday, including 1,048 in Northern Virginia.

According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, 2,454 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19; to date 29,545 confirmed COCID cases have been treated and discharged from the state's hospitals.

Ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 34 percent capacity, with 1,021 of the 3,013 available in use. ICU occupancy is at 78 percent. There have been no hospitals reporting difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment within 72 hours since Sept. 18.

The cumulative coronavirus totals in Virginia on Saturday stand at 329,577 cases, 17,464 hospitalizations, and 4,840 deaths.

The seven-day positive average of PCR tests is 12.1 percent statewide as of Dec. 26.

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

• Alexandria: 6,985 cases, 424 hospitalizations, 86 deaths; increase of 145 cases, three hospitalizations and one death
• Arlington County: 8,475 cases, 647 hospitalizations, 176 deaths; increase of 253 cases, eight hospitalizations and two deaths
• Fairfax County: 41,769 cases, 2,870 hospitalizations, 671 deaths; increase of 984 cases, 33 hospitalizations and eight deaths
• Fairfax City: 282 cases, 25 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; increase of one case, one hospitalization
• Falls Church: 166 cases, 16 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of seven cases
• Loudoun County: 13,441 cases, 629 hospitalizations, 154 deaths; increase of 359 cases, one hospitalization
• Manassas: 2,803 cases, 147 hospitalizations, 30 deaths; increase of 51 cases, one death
• Manassas Park: 904 cases, 62 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of 22 cases
• Prince William County: 24,292 cases, 1,202 hospitalizations, 249 deaths; increase of 885 cases, 11 hospitalizations
• Fredericksburg: 978 cases, 63 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of 33 cases
• Spotsylvania County: 4,464 cases, 204 hospitalizations, 67 deaths; increase of 245 cases and four hospitalizations
• Stafford County: 4,886 cases, 221 hospitalizations, 23 deaths; increase of 227 cases, two hospitalizations