First Cases of Brazil COVID-19 Variant Identified In Virginia

VIRGINIA — The first cases of the COVID-19 Brazil variant have been identified in two Virginia residents, according to state health officials.

One case of the Brazil variant, or SARS-CoV-2 variant P.1, was identified in an adult resident of the Northwest region who had a history of domestic travel during the exposure period and the second case was identified in an adult resident of the Eastern region with no history of travel, the Virginia Department of Health said.

Neither person had a record of getting the COVID-19 vaccination prior to becoming sick, according to health officials. The variant, which was first identified in travelers from Brazil in late 2020, is associated with increased person-to-person transmission of COVID-19. At this time, there is no evidence that infections with this variant cause more severe disease, the VDH said.

Of the 674 variants of concern reported to the VDH to date, the majority have been identified as B.1.1.7, or the U.K. variant, at 78.5 percent, followed by B.1.351, or the South Africa variant, at 9.5 percent of the variants; B.1.427, or the California variant, at 8 percent; and B.1.429, another form of the California variant, at 3.7 percent.

All Aboard On Sunday

The VDH is moving the entire state into phase 2 of its vaccine rollout plan, meaning all residents over the age of 16 will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting Sunday. Only the Pfizer vaccine is approved for 16- and 17-year-olds.

The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are approved for adults 18 and over, although Virginia has suspended the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after federal health agencies warned that the single-dose vaccine may cause a rare, and potentially fatal, blood clot disorder.

The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 1,063 adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines have been reported in Virginia. The issues reported to the CDC so far represent 0.02 percent of the more than 5.1 million doses administered in the state as of Friday afternoon.

Dr. Taison Bell, an assistant professor of medicine in the University of Virginia’s Division of Infectious Diseases, told WRIC that the numbers show that problems with the vaccine are extremely rare.

“Your risk of dying from COVID-19 is higher than your risk of having an adverse reaction to the vaccine,” Bell told the news outlet.

RELATED: Self-Scheduling COVID-19 Vaccinations Starts Sunday In Virginia

As part of the move to phase 2, residents no longer need to pre-register for the vaccine, but appointments at most locations will still be required. To sign up for an appointment, visit the Vaccine Virginia website or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682).

On Saturday, the Virginia Department of Health reported that 2,059,882 Virginians, or 24.1 percent of the state's population, were fully vaccinated.

According to VDH data, 5,208,823 total doses have been administered, with 3,345,853 people, or 39.2 percent of the state's population, receiving at least their first dose. The seven-day average on Saturday was 77,918 doses administered in Virginia.

Local health departments lead the state with 1,545,174 total doses given, followed by 1,288,102 given at pharmacies. Hospitals have administered a total of 960,860 vaccines. Medical practices are next with 775,238 doses administered followed by community health providers at 639,449.

COVID-19 Data

The VDH reported a 6.0-percent coronavirus positivity rate on Saturday from tests performed on residents over the past seven days. The positivity rate dropped for the first time in a week after remaining steady at 6.1 percent.

The positive rate is far below the 2021 high of 17.4 percent reported on Jan. 3 by the VDH. Since the start of the pandemic, the all-time high of the seven-day coronavirus positivity rate was 20.2 percent on April 20, 2020.

On average, 18,482 daily PCR testing encounters were reported statewide on April 13, down from a peak of 35,034 on Jan. 14.

On Saturday, 1,608 additional COVID-19 cases were reported by the VDH, and the seven-day average of daily cases was 1,500. Northern Virginia accounted for 417 new cases on Saturday and has a seven-day average of 401 daily cases.

An additional 15 COVID-19 deaths were reported Friday, bringing the death total to 10,564.

Virginia's COVID-19 hospitalizations stood at 1,032 statewide on Saturday. The current count includes 248 patients in intensive care units and 142 on ventilators.

Ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 29 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 79 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

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

• Alexandria: 11,442 cases, 549 hospitalizations, 132 deaths; increase of 40 cases, two hospitalizations and two deaths
• Arlington County: 14,807 cases, 821 hospitalizations, 249 deaths; increase of 33 cases
• Fairfax County: 74,321 cases, 3,837 hospitalizations, 1,059 deaths; increase of 146 cases and four hospitalizations
• Fairfax City: 535 cases, 47 hospitalizations, 18 deaths; increase of one case
• Falls Church: 411 cases, 20 hospitalizations, nine deaths; no changes
• Loudoun County: 26,645 cases, 995 hospitalizations, 274 deaths; increase of 76 cases, three hospitalizations and one death
• Manassas: 4,254 cases, 169 hospitalizations, 45 deaths; increase of six cases
• Manassas Park: 1,183 cases, 68 hospitalizations, 12 deaths; no changes
• Prince William County: 43,729 cases, 1,584 hospitalizations, 477 deaths; increase of 115 cases and one hospitalization
• Fredericksburg: 1,992 cases, 99 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of five cases
• Spotsylvania County: 9,358 cases, 301 hospitalizations, 113 deaths; increase of 34 cases and one death
• Stafford County: 10,705 cases, 345 hospitalizations, 72 deaths; increase of 47 cases

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