The Virginia Department of Health reported 943 coronavirus cases Friday, bringing the state’s tally to 68,931.
It’s the highest increase since June 7, when Virginia reported 1,284 new cases.
This week, some localities set record highs with their biggest increases in new cases since the pandemic began, including Virginia Beach’s record high of 116 new cases Friday, as well as Hampton with 30.
Speaking at a free coronavirus testing site in Chesapeake’s South Norfolk neighborhood Friday, Gov. Ralph Northam said he was watching the uptick in cases in Hampton Roads and said he would “take measures” if cases continue to rise and if people don’t follow the state’s social distancing guidelines. He didn’t specify what those measures would be, other than possibly scaling back the size of gatherings allowed in Phase 3 of the state’s reopening.
When asked whether he’d consider sending Hampton Roads and other regions with spikes in cases back a phase — or doing so for the whole state — Northam said “all options are on the table.”
Of the total cases in the state, 66,095 are confirmed and 2,836 are probable, meaning those patients are symptomatic and have a known exposure to the illness.
At least 1,958 Virginians have died from the virus as of Friday morning, up 21 from Thursday.
Throughout the state, there have been 7,139 cases in long-term care facilities and 1,173 deaths, according to data from the VDH.
The state’s seven-day percentage of positive PCR tests remained steady at 6.3%. Virginia reported 15,258 new PCR tests were performed, bringing the total to 765,889.
The number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 is 1,006, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. Of those, 628 have confirmed cases and 378 are awaiting test results. So far, 9,189 COVID-19 patients have been discharged. As of Friday morning, 21% of the state’s ventilators are in use.
In Hampton Roads, Norfolk saw its biggest increase Thursday with 95 new cases, and another 71 on Friday.
Lastly, Gloucester County also saw its biggest increase with 12 new cases Thursday.
Northam said he’s “watching very closely what is happening in restaurants and bars” in Hampton Roads, citing health department data that shows a 250% increase in positive cases among 20-29-year-olds since May and saying young people are gathering in those businesses. He said he’s been encouraging local health departments to enforce the state’s Phase 3 guidelines in restaurants and bars.
He said when there are hot spots, or coronavirus outbreaks in a locality or region, the state’s plan has been to test as many people as possible and add contact tracers. He said the state has hired over 1,200 tracers to monitor positive patients’ interactions and track the virus’ spread.
Northam is scheduled to hold a coronavirus press conference in Richmond on Tuesday.
Here are the rest of the numbers for the region compared to Thursday. The large number represents the number of cases reported in each locality since the pandemic began.
Accomack: 1,042 (no change); 14 deaths (no change)
Chesapeake: 1,162 (up 45); 22 deaths (no change)
Gloucester: 65 (up 1); 1 death (no change)
Hampton: 454 (up 30); 4 deaths (no change)
Isle of Wight: 215 (up 6); 9 deaths (no change)
James City: 332 (up 9); 16 deaths (no change)
Mathews: 7 (no change); 0 deaths (no change)
Middlesex: 16 (up 1); 0 deaths (no change)
Newport News: 679 (up 20); 10 deaths (no change)
Norfolk: 1,360 (up 71); 15 deaths (up 1)
Northampton: 273 (up 1); 28 deaths (no change)
Poquoson: 20 (no change); 0 deaths (no change)
Portsmouth: 627 (up 22); 18 deaths (no change)
Suffolk: 526 (up 22); 42 deaths (up 2)
Virginia Beach 1,663 (up 116); 30 deaths (no change)
Williamsburg: 78 (no change); 6 deaths (no change)
York: 144 (up 4); 3 deaths (no change)
In Virginia, people older than 80 account for 3,564 cases and 987 deaths. Here’s how the rest of the age groups break down for cases and deaths:
70-79: 3,487 cases, 491 deaths
60-69: 6,719 cases, 287 deaths
50-59: 10,308 cases, 121 deaths
40-49: 12,078 cases, 51 deaths
30-39: 12,754 cases, 15 deaths
20-29: 11,970 cases, 4 deaths
10-19: 5,031 cases, 0 deaths
0-9: 2,310 cases, 0 deaths
The VDH did not report ages for 710 cases and two deaths.
Here are the seven-day percent positivity rates for the Health Districts around Hampton Roads:
Chesapeake: 11.2% (up)
Eastern Shore: 2.3% (down)
Hampton: 9.5% (up)
Norfolk: 16.3% (up)
Peninsula: 7.8% (up)
Portsmouth: 14.0% (up)
Virginia Beach: 7.2% (up)
Western Tidewater: 7.7% (up)
Since the pandemic began in Virginia, 34,744 women have had cases and 967 women have died, while 33,739 men have had cases and 984 men have died. Of the state tally, 448 cases don’t have a reported sex and 7 deaths don’t have a reported sex.
Staff writer Marie Albiges contributed to this report.
Saleen Martin, 757-446-2027, saleen.martin@pilotonline.com
