New Coronavirus Cases Above 4,000 In Virginia For First Time

VIRGINIA — Daily coronavirus cases reported by the Virginia Department of Health were above 4,000 for the first time on Wednesday, bringing the seven-day average to 3,521. New cases totaled 4,398, including 1,323 in Northern Virginia.

Like the state as a whole, Northern Virginia has seen its seven-day case average increase to a new high. Northern Virginia's previous peak case average had been 685, and the latest average is 1,008.

The average of PCR tests reported each day has been rising throughout the months. On Wednesday, the average was 25,270 tests, more than double the average of 10,285 six months ago on June 9.

The seven-day positive average of tests is 10.9 percent statewide as of Dec. 6. The northern region's average is 11.5 percent, second in the state to the southwest region's 14.5 percent average. 10.3 percent in the eastern region, 10.4 percent in the northwest region and 8.4 percent in the central region.

Current COVID-19 hospital patients are at a high for the state as a whole, but not for Northern Virginia as a region. Statewide hospital patients stand at 2,004, which includes 429 in the intensive care units and 197 on ventilators. Northern Virginia has 540 current patients, including 103 in the ICU and 46 on ventilators. The peak hospitalization count for Northern Virginia had been 818 on April 30.

Ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 30 percent capacity, and ICU occupancy is at 78 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. The average ICU occupancy in 2019 was 67 percent. No hospitals have reported difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment since Sept. 18.

There were 21 new deaths reported on Wednesday, and the seven-day average of daily death reports is 24. Cumulative statewide totals stand at 267,128 cases, 15,592 hospitalizations, and 4,281 deaths.

VDH has created a COVID-19 Vaccination Response web page to prepare for future availability of vaccines. Community conversations about how Virginia is preparing for the COVID-19 vaccine in target populations are being held on select days from Dec. 8 to 17. Pre-registration is required.

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

• Alexandria: 5,950 cases, 388 hospitalizations, 81 deaths; increase of 76 cases and four hospitalizations
• Arlington County: 7,062 cases, 604 hospitalizations, 162 deaths; increase of 118 cases, one hospitalization and one death
• Fairfax County: 34,996 cases, 2,655 hospitalizations, 629 deaths; increase of 509 cases, nine hospitalizations and one death
• Fairfax City: 232 cases, 20 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; increase of five cases, two hospitalizations and one death
• Falls Church: 128 cases, 15 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of five cases
• Loudoun County: 11,270 cases, 572 hospitalizations, 151 deaths; increase of 265 cases and one hospitalization
• Manassas: 2,440 cases, 143 hospitalizations, 28 deaths; increase of 22 cases and one hospitalization
• Manassas Park: 776 cases, 62 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of eight cases
• Prince William County: 20,080 cases, 1,127 hospitalizations, 237 deaths; increase of 314 cases, eight hospitalizations and one death
• Fredericksburg: 795 cases, 58 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of 11 cases and one hospitalization
• Spotsylvania County: 3,574 cases, 184 hospitalizations, 58 deaths; increase of 45 cases
• Stafford County: 3,811 cases, 205 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of 61 cases

SEE ALSO:

• Most Will Get Coronavirus Vaccine But Questions Raised: VA Survey
• More Coronavirus Vaccines Coming For VA's Top-Priority Groups