Virginia COVID-19 Testing Rate Drops To Lowest Level In 6 Months

VIRGINIA — As the percentage of Virginians receiving the COVID-19 vaccine increases, COVID-19 cases and the positive rate of tests continue to fall. The seven-day positive average of PCR tests is 4.9 percent as of April 25. That's the lowest testing average for Virginia since 4.9 percent was reported on Oct. 12. The peak 2021 average had been above 17 percent in the early days of January.

Daily cases are averaging in the 1,000s compared to a peak average over 6,000 in the latter part of January. On Thursday, 1,187 new cases were reported, bringing the seven-day average to 1,051 daily cases. There were 16 additional deaths reported since Tuesday.

The current hospitalizations have been stable with some daily changes in patients. As of Wednesday, VDH reported 960 current patients, down from 985 on Tuesday. That number includes 237 patients in the intensive care units and 138 on ventilators.

The 960 COVID-19 hospital patients represent about 7.18 percent of the 13,371 occupied hospital beds in Virginia. Ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 29 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 81 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Virginia has surpassed 6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, according to Virginia Department of Health data.

A total of 3,743,536 people have at least one dose, or 43.9 percent of Virginia's estimated 8.5 million people. There are 2,550,627 people fully vaccinated, or 29.9 percent of the population. All people 16 and older are eligible for the vaccine.

Residents can see the full guidelines for vaccinated people from the CDC. Vaccine providers can be found near your ZIP code at vaccinefinder.org.

Here are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area from Wednesday to Thursday:

• Alexandria: 11,624 cases, 557 hospitalizations, 133 deaths; increase of 12 cases and two hospitalizations
• Arlington County: 15,057 cases, 829 hospitalizations, 252 deaths; increase of 12 cases
• Fairfax County: 75,680 cases, 3,896 hospitalizations, 1,072 deaths; increase of 99 cases, 13 hospitalizations, and two deaths
• Fairfax City: 548 cases, 47 hospitalizations, 19 deaths; increase of four cases
• Falls Church: 423 cases, 21 hospitalizations, nine deaths; increase of one case
• Loudoun County: 27,259 cases, 1,033 hospitalizations, 274 deaths; increase of 57cases and three hospitalizations
• Manassas: 4,299 cases, 169 hospitalizations, 47 deaths; increase of two cases
• Manassas Park: 1,199 cases, 68 hospitalizations, 12 deaths; no changes
• Prince William County: 44,451 cases, 1,604 hospitalizations, 480 deaths; increase of 50 cases, four hospitalizations, and one death
• Fredericksburg: 2,068 cases, 100 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of eight cases
• Spotsylvania County: 9,675 cases, 304 hospitalizations, 114 deaths; increase of 36 cases and one hospitalization
• Stafford County: 11,031 cases, 353 hospitalizations, 75 deaths; increase of 24 cases and two hospitalizations