VA Coronavirus: Daily Tests Reach 5,500 As State Aims For 10,000

VIRGINIA — Virginia's cases of the new coronavirus increased by 885 from Wednesday to Thursday and 30 more deaths were reported, according to the latest data from the Virginia Department of Health. The latest totals are 15,846 cases, 552 deaths and 2,322 hospitalizations.

On Thursday, Virginia health officials also reported an increase of 5,536 in the number of coronavirus tests conducted in the state, one of the biggest daily jumps since the state began keeping track of testing for the coronavirus. As of Thursday, 90,843 people in Virginia have been tested for the virus compared to 85,307 on Wednesday.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's testing goal for reopening the economy calls for a 10,000-per-day testing capacity. The governor said Wednesday that FEMA is sending 200,000 additional swabs to Virginia to help increase testing in the state.

Thursday's total number of positive cases includes 15,180 laboratory-confirmed cases and 666 probable cases among patients with symptoms and a known exposure to COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. Of the total deaths, 543 were confirmed positive cases.

As of Thursday, the state has reported 216 outbreaks, 120 of which are in long-term care facilities. Outbreaks, defined as two or more laboratory-confirmed cases, at long-term care facilities account for 1,537 cases and 118 deaths.

Virginia's other outbreaks include 49 in congregate settings, 19 in correctional facilities, 18 in health care settings, seven in educational settings and three designated as "other." The Fairfax Health District has 35 total outbreaks, the most among localities.

In Virginia's prisons, 400 prisoners and staff combined have tested positive for the coronavirus. Two prisoners have died: an inmate at the Deerfield Correctional Center in Southampton County and an inmate at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women in Goochland.

On Tuesday, the National Coalition of Public Safety Officers sent a letter to Northam asking for coronavirus testing for all officers, staff, prisonsers, and residents at the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice, according to a WRIC report.

“These facilities are a microcosm of the community at large with one main difference, social distancing is not an option for officers and staff,” said Donald Baylor, Virginia Director for NCPSO. “These cases continue to rise and we must start with the facilities that have been most affected, test everyone just like Deerfield, and then move to every other location in order for us to have the data to know what must be done.”

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On Thursday, the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association reported 1,550 people with confirmed or pending test results currently hospitalized, compared to 1,566 patients reported on Wednesday. More than 2,100 COVID-19 patients have been discharged, up from 2,042 on Wednesday.

Among Virginia patients with confirmed or pending test results, 372 are in the intensive care unit compared to 387 Wednesday. On Thursday, 208 COVID-19 patients were using ventilators, down from 222 on Wednesday. Overall, 613 of available 2,974 ventilators are in use at hospitals, representing 21 percent use of ventilators in Virginia, up from 20 percent use on Wednesday.

Two hospitals are reporting having difficulty obtaining or replenishing personal protective equipment in the next 72 hours, and one hospital is reporting difficulty obtaining medical supplies in the same timeframe, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Virginia's first confirmed coronavirus case on March 7 at Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County was followed by the closure of certain non-essential businesses and ban on gatherings of more than 10 people on March 24. This order was extended until May 8. A separate stay-at-home order was issued on March 30 and is effective through June 10.

On Wednesday, Northam said he will allow his ban on elective surgeries at hospitals to expire after April 30 as the state avoided a hospital resource surge from the new coronavirus crisis. In addition to allowing elective surgeries, Northam said non-emergency dental procedures can resume starting Friday.

"Our efforts to slow the spread of this virus are showing success," Northam said Wednesday at a news conference. "Our hospitals have not been overwhelmed. We have been able to get more PPE and developed ways to decontaminate masks and gowns.

Here are the latest updates for localities in our Northern Virginia coverage area, as of Thursday.

• Alexandria: 754 cases, 97 hospitalizations, 21 deaths
• Arlington County: 967 cases, 167 hospitalizations, 41 deaths
• Fairfax County: 3,611 cases, 606 hospitalizations, 134 deaths
• Fairfax City: 27 cases, four hospitalizations, two deaths
• Falls Church: 26 cases, three hospitalizations, two deaths
• Loudoun County: 746 cases, 90 hospitalizations, 15 deaths
• Manassas: 216 cases, 28 hospitalizations, two deaths
• Manassas Park: 61 cases, eight hospitalizations, one death
• Prince William County: 1,645 cases, 169 hospitalizations, 24 deaths
• Fredericksburg: 33 cases, seven hospitalizations, no deaths
• Spotsylvania County: 143 cases, 23 hospitalizations, three deaths
• Stafford County: 240 cases, 44 hospitalizations, two deaths

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