VA Deaths From Coronavirus Top 2K As New Case Surge Continues

VIRGINIA — Deaths from COVID-19 in Virginia passed the 2,000 mark Thursday as the number of new coronavirus cases in the state remains much higher than a month ago. The Virginia Department of Health reported 15 new deaths Thursday, lifting the number of people who have died from COVID-19 to 2,007.

The VDH also reported 904 new coronavirus cases across the state, down 180 cases from the 1,084 new cases reported Wednesday but still much higher than what the state was reporting only a few weeks ago. The latest cumulative totals are 74,431 cases and 7,020 hospitalizations.

On Wednesday, the VDH reported 1,084 new cases, the highest total since June 7, when 1,284 new cases were reported. The 7-day moving average of positive tests is above 7 percent after staying in the 5-percent or 6-percent range since mid-June.

The statewide 7.2 percent average, as of July 12, is based on nasal swab tests only. In all, 858,312 nasal swab tests have been completed in Virginia as of Thursday, an increase of 16,188 tests since Wednesday.

Regions outside of Northern Virginia are driving the summer surge in coronavirus cases in Virginia. Of the 904 new cases reported Thursday, only 151, or 16.7 percent, came from counties and cities in Northern Virginia.

Fairfax County reported seven new deaths Thursday, its highest daily total in weeks. Alexandria hasn't reported a new death since June 26.

According to the VDH's online dashboard, the city of Fredericksburg on Thursday saw its first death from the coronavirus. But according to a health department official, the death was incorrectly attributed to Fredericksburg. The person who died lived in Spotsylvania County, not Fredericksburg. The error will be corrected in Friday's report issued by the state.

Last month, another death was incorrectly attributed to the city due to confusion over ZIP codes in the area. The city has now gone more than four months without a death from the pandemic.

The top four Virginia jurisdictions with the highest number of new coronavirus cases Thursday were located in the Tidewater region, where mask-wearing is not as common as in Northern Virginia. In Norfolk, 146 new cases were reported Thursday, followed by 135 new cases in Virginia Beach, 68 new cases in Chesapeake and 40 new cases in Newport News.

According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, 1,134 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized as of Thursday, up from 1,081 on Wednesday and 1,127 on Tuesday. Hospitalizations are back in the 1,000s after falling below that level between June 14 and July 9. A total of 9,644 coronavirus patients have been discharged from Virginia hospitals, up from 9,527 on Wednesday.

As of Thursday, the hospitalized patients include 118 on ventilators and 248 in the intensive care units. There are 644 of 3,126 available ventilators in use by all hospital patients, or 21 percent. No hospitals are having difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment or other medical supplies.

Here are the latest case updates for our coverage areas as of Thursday, compared with Wednesday's data:

• Alexandria: 2,507 cases, 253 hospitalizations, 56 deaths; increase of 21 cases and decrease of one death.
• Arlington County: 2,691 cases, 426 hospitalizations, 134 deaths; increase of 14 cases and four hospitalizations.
• Fairfax County: 14,687 cases, 1,767 hospitalizations, 509 deaths; increase of 34 cases, 14 hospitalizations and seven deaths.
• Fairfax City: 74 cases, six hospitalizations, seven deaths; no change.
• Falls Church: 54 cases, 10 hospitalizations, seven deaths; no change.
• Loudoun County: 4,557 cases, 308 hospitalizations, 101 deaths; increase of 38 cases and seven hospitalizations.
• Manassas: 1,499 cases, 110 hospitalizations, 19 deaths; increase of two cases and three hospitalizations.
• Manassas Park: 464 cases, 47 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of one case.
• Prince William County: 7,978 cases, 720 hospitalizations, 160 deaths; increase of 31 cases and five hospitalizations.
• Fredericksburg: 288 cases, 29 hospitalizations, no deaths; increase of one hospitalization.
• Spotsylvania County: 1,108 cases, 84 hospitalizations, 31 deaths; increase of 14 cases and decrease of one death.
• Stafford County: 1,096 cases, 108 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of 11 cases.

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• 1K New Virginia Coronavirus Cases, Positive Rate Above 7 Percent