Coronavirus Hospitalizations Below 800 In Virginia, Phase 3 Nears

VIRGINIA — Two days before phase three of reopening is expected to start across Virginia, 453 additional coronavirus cases have been reported. According to the Virginia Department of Health, the cumulative totals on Monday are 62,189 cases, 6,164 hospitalizations and 1,740 deaths.

Numbers of new cases have remained relatively flat in the latter half of June after declines through the first half. There were 489 new cases reported on Sunday, 677 on Saturday, 624 on Friday and 432 on Thursday.

Testing has been on the rise until June, and there have been small fluctuations since. Throughout June, at least 10,000 tests or nearly 10,000 tests have been reported daily by laboratories. As of Monday, 633,705 polymerase chain reaction (PCR or nasal swab) tests have been completed in Virginia.

The positive rate of tests stands at 5.9 percent on June 25. At a peak, the rate had been over 20 percent on April 20. Positive rates were lower in several Northern health districts: 5.7 percent in Alexandria and 2.5 percent in Arlington County. However, the rates were 10.2 percent in the Prince William Health District, 8.8 percent in Loudoun County and 7 percent in the Fairfax Health District.

Current hospitalizations are below 800 for the first time since VDH started tracking data in mid-April. According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, 796 people with confirmed or pending coronavirus test results are hospitalized. This includes 225 COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit and 101 on ventilators. There are 591 of 2,982 ventilators in use by all hospital patients, representing 20 percent use.

There have been 8,023 coronavirus patients discharged from hospitals in Virginia. No hospitals are experiencing difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment or other medical supplies.

Across Virginia, 452 coronavirus outbreaks are associated with 11,084 cases. Long-term care facilities have 236 outbreaks, 6,794 cases and 1,064 deaths. The VDH Long-Term Care Task Force is providing locations, cases and deaths at outbreak locations. Outbreaks are defined as two or more laboratory-confirmed cases.

Gov. Ralph Northam will allow all of Virginia to enter phase three of his Forward Virginia reopening plan. The face covering requirement at indoor public places will continue.

Phase three will increase the social gathering limit from 50 to 250 people, or 50 percent capacity of an event space. Capacity limits will be lifted for restaurants, nonessential retail and places of worship. Personal care and grooming businesses must continue staggered appointment times to limit congregating in waiting areas.

Fitness facilities and swimming pools can operate at 75 percent capacity with ten feet of physical distancing between individuals. Recreational sports are allowed with attendee limits and physical distancing.

Entertainment venues must limit capacity to 50 percent, with a maximum of 1,000 people. Ten feet of physical distancing must be maintained between households. This guidance applies to: performing arts venues, concert venues, movie theaters, drive-in entertainment, sports venues, botanical gardens, zoos, fairs, carnivals, amusement parks, museums, aquariums, historic horse racing facilities bowling alleys, skating rinks, arcades, amusement parks, trampoline parks, fairs, carnivals, arts and craft facilities, escape rooms, trampoline parks, public and private social clubs, and all other entertainment facilities.

Here are the latest coronavirus updates for our Virginia Patch coverage areas:

• Alexandria: 2,317 cases, 238 hospitalizations, 57 deaths
• Arlington County: 2,466 cases, 418 hospitalizations, 132 deaths
• Fairfax County: 13,840 cases, 1,609 hospitalizations, 478 deaths
• Fairfax City: 70 cases, seven hospitalizations, seven deaths
• Falls Church: 56 cases, 11 hospitalizations, eight deaths
• Loudoun County: 3,968 cases, 271 hospitalizations, 87 deaths
• Manassas: 1,385 cases, 96 hospitalizations, 16 deaths
• Manassas Park: 427 cases, 44 hospitalizations, five deaths
• Prince William County: 7,210 cases, 653 hospitalizations, 139 deaths
• Fredericksburg: 247 cases, 24 hospitalizations, no deaths
• Spotsylvania County: 985 cases, 73 hospitalizations, 29 deaths
• Stafford County: 985 cases, 91 hospitalizations, five deaths

SEE ALSO:

• Virginia's Phase 3 Reopening Scheduled To Begin July 1: Governor
• Positive Coronavirus Cases Top 60K In Virginia As Phase 3 Nears