2.1 Million Fully Vaccinated As Virginia Expands Eligibility

VIRGINIA — As of Sunday, all areas of Virginia are in phase 2 of COVID-19 vaccinations, allowing everyone aged 16 and up to be eligible for the vaccine. The state transitioned from a preregistration system to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vaccine Finder, which allows people to directly book appointments through vaccination providers.

Anyone 16 and older can find vaccinations providers with their ZIP code at vaccinefinder.org. Residents may also call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682) for help finding a vaccine appointment daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

People who are eligible in phases 1a, 1b or 1c who cannot find an appointment through Vaccine Finder may still preregister through the state. This includes anyone 65 and older, healthcare workers, frontline essential workers, other essential workers, those with a medical condition or disability, or those living in a long-term care facility, correctional facility, homeless shelter, or migrant labor camp.

In a video update on Friday, Gov. Ralph Northam at least 3 million Virginians would become eligible on Sunday. He estimated it could take weeks for appointments to become available to everyone who seeks the vaccine. The governor expressed confidence that any adult who wants the vaccine could get the first dose by the end of May.

To date, over 2.1 million people are fully vaccinated in Virginia, or 24.6 percent of the population. Over 3.3 million people have at least one dose, or 39.5 percent of the population.

"Over the past four months, we have worked hard to vaccinate priority groups, like people who are older or who have high risk medical conditions," said Northam on Friday. "Today approximately half of adults in Virginia have had at least their first dose of the vaccine."

The state is averaging 77,894 doses administered per day. Local health departments have given 1,566,823 doses, followed by pharmacies with 1,307,917 doses given, hospitals with 967,914 doses given, medical practices with 784,473 doses given, and other community health providers with 654,751 doses given.

COVID-19 Data

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and percent positivity of tests remain steady in Virginia, according to Virginia Department of Health data. On Sunday, 1,305 new COVID-19 cases were reported, bringing the seven-day averages of daily cases to 1,512.

An additional 17 COVID-19 deaths were reported Sunday, bringing the death total to 10,581. In Northern Virginia, no new deaths were reported in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Loudoun County and Manassas Park.

The positive average of PCR tests is 6.1 percent as of April 14. By comparison, the all-time high of the seven-day coronavirus positivity rate was 20.2 percent on April 20, 2020, and the 2021 high was 17.4 percent on Jan. 3. An average of 18,625 daily PCR tests are reported, down from a high of 35,042 on Jan. 14.

There are 1,054 COVID-19 patients in hospitals as of Sunday. That includes 252 in the intensive care units and 139 on ventilators. COVID-19 patients represent about 8 percent of the 13,118 occupied hospital beds in Virginia. Ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 29 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 77 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Here are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area from Saturday to Sunday:

• Alexandria: 11,461 cases, 549 hospitalizations, 132 deaths; increase of 19 cases
• Arlington County: 14,835 cases, 821 hospitalizations, 249 deaths; increase of 28 cases
• Fairfax County: 74,499 cases, 3,839 hospitalizations, 1,061 deaths; increase of 178 cases, two hospitalizations and two deaths
• Fairfax City: 538 cases, 47 hospitalizations, 18 deaths; increase of three cases
• Falls Church: 412 cases, 20 hospitalizations, nine deaths; increase of one case
• Loudoun County: 26,694 cases, 995 hospitalizations, 274 deaths; increase of 49 cases
• Manassas: 4,257 cases, 169 hospitalizations, 46 deaths; increase of three cases and one death
• Manassas Park: 1,184 cases, 68 hospitalizations, 12 deaths; increase of one case
• Prince William County: 43,825 cases, 1,585 hospitalizations, 478 deaths; increase of 96 cases, one hospitalization and one death
• Fredericksburg: 1,995 cases, 99 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of three cases
• Spotsylvania County: 9,395 cases, 301 hospitalizations, 113 deaths; increase of 37 cases
• Stafford County: 10,739 cases, 345 hospitalizations, 72 deaths; increase of 34 cases

SEE ALSO: How To Get The COVID-19 Vaccine In Virginia