Virginia's Eastern Region Leads In New Cases, Positive Average

VIRGINIA — An additional 4,515 coronavirus cases were reported Wednesday by the Virginia Department of Health after the daily case average rose above 6,000 earlier in the week.

The seven-day average of cases has jumped in the last few days, largely due to three days of the highest daily totals for Virginia — 6,757 on Saturday, Jan. 16, 9,914 on Sunday, Jan. 17, and 7,245 on Monday, Jan. 18. Sunday's record-high number was driven a spike in two counties: 1,485 new cases in Fairfax County and 1,356 in Prince William County.

On some days, the eastern region has surpassed Northern Virginia for the most cases. Wednesday's new cases by region include 1,438 in the eastern region, 915 in the northern region, 852 in the central region, 659 in the northwest region, and 651 in the southwest region.

Current COVID-19 hospitalizations are slightly down but remain higher than any total in previous months. As of Wednesday, there are 3,095 patients, including 554 in the intensive care units and 338 on ventilators. These 3,095 patients make up approximately 22 percent of the 13,518 occupied hospital beds. COVID-19 hospitalizations by region include 729 in the central region, 721 in the eastern region, 579 in the northern region, 544 in the southwest region, and 522 in the northwest region.

The positive rate of tests is on the decline while total daily testing encounters have increased to an average over 30,000 in the new year. As of Jan. 16, the seven-day average is 13.5 percent. It has been decreasing since surpassing 17 percent in the early days of 2021. The average of daily testing encounters (both positive and negative) is 32,363. The eastern region leads with a positive average of 18 percent, followed by the southwest region with 15 percent, northern region with 13.1 percent, central region with 11.7 percent and northwest region with 10.5 percent.

As the United States surpassed 400,000 deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday, Virginia accounts for 5,861 as of Wednesday. There were 63 new deaths reported in the last day. The age group breakdown of deaths to date is 2,908 for ages 80 and up, 1,503 for the 70s, 894 for the 60s, 368 for the 50s, 118 for the 40s, 46 for the 30s, 11 for the 20s, and one for the 10s.

Virginia is more than a month into COVID-19 vaccinations for its first priority groups and averages 18,740 doses administered per day. As of Wednesday, 320,593 people have had at least one dose and 39,458 are fully vaccinated in Virginia. To date, 943,400 doses have been distributed in Virginia. VDH cautions that vaccine administrations may take up to 72 hours to be reported.

Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines require two doses, with the second dose taken three to four weeks after the first. Eligible groups in phases 1a and 1b should seek information on vaccinations in their local health district.

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

• Alexandria: 8,871 cases, 477 hospitalizations, 96 deaths; increase of 61 cases and eight hospitalizations
• Arlington County: 10,913 cases, 710 hospitalizations, 192 deaths; increase of 53 cases, three hospitalizations and three deaths
• Fairfax County: 55,305 cases, 3,155 hospitalizations, 738 deaths; increase of 387 cases, eight hospitalizations and five deaths
• Fairfax City: 379 cases, 26 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; increase of six cases
• Falls Church: 245 cases, 18 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of two cases
• Loudoun County: 17,389 cases, 699 hospitalizations, 170 deaths; increase of 153 cases and seven hospitalizations
• Manassas: 3,466 cases, 151 hospitalizations, 30 deaths; increase of eight cases and one hospitalization
• Manassas Park: 1,043 cases, 66 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of two cases
• Prince William County: 32,480 cases, 1,281 hospitalizations, 281 deaths; increase of 243 cases and three deaths
• Fredericksburg: 1,332 cases, 69 hospitalizations, 13 deaths; increase of 22 cases
• Spotsylvania County: 6,348 cases, 233 hospitalizations, 75 deaths; increase of 92 cases and two hospitalizations
• Stafford County: 6,948 cases, 255 hospitalizations, 36 deaths; increase of 61 cases, one hospitalization and one death