Quarter Of Virginia Population Has First COVID-19 Vaccine Dose

VIRGINIA — As COVID-19 vaccinations continue, a quarter of Virginia's population has the first vaccine dose.

As of Wednesday, Virginia Department of Health data shows 2,140,673 people have the first dose, or 25.1 percent of the population. There are 1,167,307 people fully vaccinated, or 13.7 percent of the population.

The percentages are based on an estimated Virginia population of 8.5 million. The Pfizer vaccine is only approved for individuals aged 16 and up, while the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are approved for ages 18 and up.

The state averages 50,358 doses administered per day. Local health departments passed the million mark for doses administered, providing 1,015,805 shots to Virginians. Hospitals have given 768,121 doses, pharmacies have given 643,609, medical practices have given 481,893, and community health providers have given 317,285.

With vaccination numbers going up and cases going down, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday he will relax some COVID-19 restrictions starting on April 1. Social gatherings will be allowed up to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors, up from the current limit of 10 indoors and 25 outdoors. In addition, entertainment venues may operate at 30 percent capacity, or up to 500 people indoors —whichever is lower.

Outdoor entertainment venues will be capped at 30 percent with no numeric cap. Recreational sporting events can be limited to 30 percent capacity. Spectators may be up to 100 at indoor events and 500 at outdoor events.

The governor's guidance for in-person graduations allow outdoor graduations up to 5,000 people or 30 percent capacity — whichever is lower. Indoor graduation events will be capped at 500 people or 30 percent capacity — the lower of the two.

COVID-19 data

The daily case average has appeared to stabilize after falling since mid-January. On Wednesday, 1,470 additional COVID-19 cases and six deaths were reported by the VDH. The seven-day average of daily cases stands at 1,462, down from a peak average of 6,166 daily cases on Jan. 18.

The positive average of PCR tests stands at 5.6 percent as of March 20, compared to a winter peak of 17.4 percent on Jan. 3. On average, 18,192 PCR testing encounters are reported daily, down from a peak of 35,034 on Jan. 14.

COVID-19 hospitalizations stand at 972, the lowest level since late October. The hospitalizations include 219 patients in the intensive care units and 131 on ventilators. COVID-19 patients account for about 7.3 percent of the 13,220 occupied hospital beds in Virginia.

Ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 25 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 79 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. One hospital reports difficulty obtaining medical supplies other than personal protective equipment in the next 72 hours.

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

• Alexandria: 10,805 cases, 528 hospitalizations, 128 deaths; increase of 21 cases
• Arlington County: 13,952 cases, 790 hospitalizations, 244 deaths; increase of 37 cases and one death
• Fairfax County: 70,233 cases, 3,663 hospitalizations, 1,033 deaths; increase of 137 cases and six hospitalizations, one death removed
• Fairfax City: 509 cases, 41 hospitalizations, 17 deaths; no changes
• Falls Church: 380 cases, 20 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; increase of two cases
• Loudoun County: 24,706 cases, 930 hospitalizations, 264 deaths; increase of 47 cases, three hospitalizations and one death
• Manassas: 4,125 cases, 166 hospitalizations, 45 deaths; increase of five cases
• Manassas Park: 1,160 cases, 67 hospitalizations, 12 deaths; increase of seven cases
• Prince William County: 41,228 cases, 1,499 hospitalizations, 467 deaths; increase of 75 cases and two hospitalizations
• Fredericksburg: 1,846 cases, 95 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of two cases and one hospitalization
• Spotsylvania County: 8,678 cases, 286 hospitalizations, 107 deaths; increase of 23 cases
• Stafford County: 9,998 cases, 333 hospitalizations, 68 deaths; increase of 28 cases