Coronavirus Positive Average Around 6 Percent In Virginia

VIRGINIA — Virginia's positive average of PCR tests is averaging at 6.3 percent in the last seven days. While the average is slightly up from the 5-percent range in much of March, it's well below the average above 17 percent in early January. Northern Virginia alone has an average of 6.3 percent, compared to an average above 16 percent in early January.

On Tuesday, 1,434 additional COVID-19 cases and 41 deaths were reported across the state. Northern Virginia accounted for 356 new cases and seven deaths, according to Virginia Department of Health data.

Current hospitalizations are slightly higher than the 2021 lows recorded in late March. As of Tuesday, there are 1,088 current patients, including 249 in the intensive care units and 137 on ventilators. By comparison, the lowest numbers were below 1,000 for several days in late March. Northern Virginia accounts for 259 of the state's 1,088 COVID-19 patients.

Ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 28 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 74 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Total COVID-19 testing encounters have been trending down since mid-January. The latest average is 16,731 daily PCR testing encounters, compared to a peak of 35,039 on Jan. 14. Northern Virginia alone has an average of 4,997 testing encounters.

Virginia is averaging over 80,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per day. As of Tuesday, there are 2,829,530 people with at least one dose, or 33.2 percent of the population. A total of 1,571,239 are fully vaccinated, or 18.4 percent of the population.

Local health departments lead the state with 1,283,535 total doses given, followed by pharmacies with 1,029,023 doses, including at long-term care facilities. Hospitals have administered 866,167, medical practices have given 636,357, and other community health providers have give 461,994.

Some areas of Virginia have opened vaccine eligibility to all residents 16 and up, and all areas are expected to start this phase by April 18. Gov. Ralph Northam shared an update on vaccine phases in Virginia's local health districts. In Northern Virginia, the Loudoun, Fairfax and Alexandria health districts have advanced to phase 1c, but Arlington and Prince William remain in phase 1b. Those at the highest risk will continue to be given priority in the scheduling process once eligibility opens to everyone 16 and older.

To see groups in each phase and the status of your health district, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine.

RELATED: How To Get The COVID-19 Vaccine In Virginia

Here are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area from Monday to Tuesday:

• Alexandria: 11,100 cases, 536 hospitalizations, 129 deaths; increase of 23 cases, one hospitalization and one death
• Arlington County: 14,464 cases, 809 hospitalizations, 249 deaths; increase of 28 cases, one hospitalization and two deaths
• Fairfax County: 72,390 cases, 3,766 hospitalizations, 1,048 deaths; increase of 140 cases, eight hospitalizations and four deaths
• Fairfax City: 527 cases, 44 hospitalizations, 18 deaths; increase of two hospitalizations
• Falls Church: 402 cases, 20 hospitalizations, nine deaths; increase of four cases
• Loudoun County: 25,693 cases, 959 hospitalizations, 271 deaths; increase of 70 cases and three hospitalizations
• Manassas: 4,200 cases, 167 hospitalizations, 45 deaths; increase of eight cases and one hospitalization
• Manassas Park: 1,176 cases, 67 hospitalizations, 12 deaths; increase of four cases
• Prince William County: 42,552 cases, 1,518 hospitalizations, 473 deaths; increase of 21 cases, one hospitalization and one death
• Fredericksburg: 1,916 cases, 96 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of nine cases
• Spotsylvania County: 8,993 cases, 293 hospitalizations, 109 deaths; increase of 32 cases and two hospitalizations
• Stafford County: 10,332 cases, 337 hospitalizations, 70 deaths; increase of 33 cases