Coronavirus Death Backlog Reported, VA Governor Gives Updates

VIRGINIA — Nearly a week after Gov. Ralph Northam eased additional restrictions in Hampton Roads, state officials are closely watching another region. The southwest region has taken the top spot among regions for the new coronavirus case average and positive rate of tests.

"Southwest Virginia is seeing more new cases per day on average, 229, than any other region in our state, even Northern Virginia, which is home to a lot more people living closer together," said Northam at a Tuesday news conference. "Since Southwest Virginia has fewer people and fewer hospitals with fewer ICU beds and capabilities, this continues to be concerning to us."

Northam noted that the southwest region's percent positive average of 8.1 percent is the highest among regions, but has recently declined.

The eastern region has seen improvements in the trends of new cases, positive averages and hospitalizations — health metrics that led to additional restrictions. The restrictions — a 50-person gathering limit, reduction in indoor dining to 50 percent capacity, and a requirement that restaurants close at midnight and stop alcohol sales after 10 p.m. — were lifted on Sept. 10. Localities with the additional restrictions included Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Williamsburg, Newport News, Poquoson, James City County and York County. Virginia as a whole has been under phase three of the governor's reopening plan since July 1.

"I continue to remind everyone in Virginia to keep doing the things that we know work: physical distancing, avoiding large gatherings and wearing face coverage in indoor settings," said Northam. "Ultimately it is our behavior that will get this pandemic behind us."

Cumulative totals in Virginia stand at 135,514 coronavirus cases, 10,337 hospitalizations, and 2,839 deaths, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The updated number includes 943 new cases and 96 new deaths among COVID-19 patients on Tuesday. The high number of deaths was attributed to a data backlog.

"That just represents catching up with death certificates, which come in much later than what we get from the hospitals, for example," said State Health Commissioner Norm Oliver. "If you look at a different graph, which is the deaths recorded by the date of death, you'll get a much better picture of the course of the disease. You'll see that we had a peak earlier in the year, and it's been leveled off and in the low teens for many, many weeks now."

While the new deaths data is meant to reflect the day they were reported to VDH, the state also tracks deaths by date on the death certificate. So far, the peak seven-day moving average for deaths was 39.1 on May 5. The average fell before reaching the lowest point since the early days of the pandemic in early July. The average has seen up and down fluctuations since then, but reported deaths may be incomplete for most recent weeks.

As for new cases, the seven-day moving average has been near or above 1,000 in recent days. The average on Tuesday was 1,015 cases, and the regional averages include 229.1 in the southwest, 218.6 in the northern region, 204.3 in the central region, 192 in the eastern region, and 171.3 in the northwest.

There have been 1,785,553 PCR tests completed in Virginia as of Tuesday, up 12,395 from Monday. The 7-day average positive rate of tests is 7.2 percent statewide as of Sept. 10, down from 7.5 percent a day earlier. Regional averages are 6.3 percent in the eastern region, 6.7 percent in the northern region, 7.4 percent in the northwest region, 7.9 percent in the central region, and 8.1 percent in the southwest region.

"We continue to see roughly a thousand new cases a day statewide," said Northam. "Our percent positivity is at 6.8 percent which has been decreasing for 12 days now and that is good news."

Northam added that the Virginia National Guard has been a "critical part of our pandemic response." From April to July, the National Guard collect nearly 106,000 testing samples. In addition, they helped distribute nearly 1.3 million pounds of food across Virginia.

COVIDWISE, an app launched by the Virginia Department of Health to notify participants of potential coronavirus exposures, has 515,820 downloads as of Monday. Northam estimated 12 percent of Virginians between 18-65 have downloaded the app. The app is a voluntary tool using Apple and Google's Bluetooth Low Energy technology to see if devices have been in close proximity for at least 15 minutes with users with positive coronavirus results. The app uses random Bluetooth keys but does not provide the identity of location of a positive case.

"This tool has literally great potential to help us curb the spread of this virus, and I hope all Virginans with smartphones will use this including our college campuses," said Northam.

COVID-19 hospitalizations stand at 1,015 statewide. According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, there were 104 COVID-19 patients on ventilators and 228 in the intensive care units as of Monday. Ventilator use among all Virginia hospital patients is at 19 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 71 percent. Two hospitals are reporting difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment in the next 72 hours.

On the protective gear front, Northam said $42 million in federal CARES Act funding has been authorized for PPE distribution.

"This will provide critical PPE supplies to federally-funded medical clinics, congregate care facilities, local health district offices, child care facilities across Virginia and more," he said.

The governor plans to announce more news on the commonwealth's Rebuild Virginia grant program for small businesses. He said the first round of the program was geared toward the businesses with the greatest need, but eligibility will be expanded for the next round.

Here are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area between Monday and Tuesday:

• Alexandria: 3,615 cases, 305 hospitalizations, 65 deaths; increase of two cases and three deaths
• Arlington County: 3,759 cases, 487 hospitalizations, 145 deaths; increase of 18 cases
• Fairfax County: 19,732 cases, 2,111 hospitalizations, 569 deaths; increase of 74 cases, five hospitalizations and one death
• Fairfax City: 131 cases, 13 hospitalizations, seven deaths; increase of two cases
• Falls Church: 67 cases, 11 hospitalizations, seven deaths; no changes
• Loudoun County: 6,489 cases, 414 hospitalizations, 119 deaths; increase of 40 cases, three hospitalizations and one death
• Manassas: 1,869 cases, 127 hospitalizations, 24 deaths; increase of five cases
• Manassas Park: 597 cases, 55 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of two cases and one hospitalization
• Prince William County: 11,765 cases, 889 hospitalizations, 193 deaths; increase of 77 cases, three hospitalizations and two deaths
• Fredericksburg: 518 cases, 49 hospitalizations, five deaths; increase of two cases and one death
• Spotsylvania County: 2,029 cases, 130 hospitalizations, 41 deaths; increase of 15 cases, one hospitalization, two deaths
• Stafford County: 1,872 cases, 147 hospitalizations, 14 deaths; increase of three cases and one death

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