Virginia Coronavirus: Over 1K New Cases; 14K New Tests Reported

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Health reported 1,055 additional cases of the new coronavirus and 29 more deaths from Thursday to Friday. The case increase comes as testing significantly increased in the last day. The latest totals are 16,901 cases, 581 deaths and 2,416 hospitalizations.

The number of residents tested stands at 105,648, an increase of 14,805 from Thursday. Gov. Ralph Northam had mentioned a 10,000 daily testing capacity as a goal for reopening the economy. The governor said Wednesday that FEMA is sending 200,000 additional swabs to Virginia to help increase testing in the state. An update on the state's efforts to increase testing will be provided at the governor's Friday news conference.

Thursday's total number of positive cases includes 16,109 laboratory-confirmed cases and 792 probable cases among patients with symptoms and a known exposure to COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. Of the total deaths, 572 were confirmed positive cases.

While the Virginia Department of Health reports total hospitalizations, the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association has data on the status of hospitalized patients and resource use. There are 1,431 currently hospitalized patients with pending or confirmed new coronavirus test results, down from 1,566 on Thursday. There have been 2,196 COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals.

Among Virginia patients with confirmed or pending test results, 366 are in the intensive care unit compared to 372 on Thursday. There are 193 COVID-19 patients using ventilators, down from 208 on Thursday. Overall, 593 of the available 2,953 ventilators are in use at hospitals, representing 20 percent use of ventilators in Virginia, down from 21 percent use on Thursday.

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, the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association reported.

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

May 1 marked the restart of elective surgeries and non-emergency dental procedures. Northam allowed his ban on elective surgeries to expire after April 30 as the state avoided a hospital resource surge from the new coronavirus crisis.

Last week, Northam unveiled his criteria for the first phase of lifting coronavirus-related restrictions no sooner than May 8. The criteria includes the percentage of positive tests and hospitalizations trending down for 14 days, increased testing and contact tracing, sufficient hospital beds and intensive care capacity, and sustained supply of personal protective equipment. An exact date for that first reopening phase has not been confirmed yet. The first phase will include continued social distancing, teleworking, limits on travel and public gatherings, and recommended use of face coverings. State and local officials, a business task force are advising Northam on lifting restrictions.

Fairfax County continues to report the most cases and deaths of Virginia localities. Case data by zip codes is expected in the coming days on the Virginia Department of Health website.

Here are the latest updates for localities in our Northern Virginia coverage area as of Friday:

• Alexandria: 802 cases, 104 hospitalizations, 24 deaths
• Arlington County: 1,004 cases, 169 hospitalizations, 42 deaths
• Fairfax County: 3,897 cases, 643 hospitalizations, 137 deaths
• Fairfax City: 29 cases, four hospitalizations, two deaths
• Falls Church: 26 cases, three hospitalizations, two deaths
• Loudoun County: 832 cases, 93 hospitalizations, 15 deaths
• Manassas: 222 cases, 29 hospitalizations, two deaths
• Manassas Park: 68 cases, nine hospitalizations, one death
• Prince William County: 1,781 cases, 174 hospitalizations, 28 deaths
• Fredericksburg: 34 cases, seven hospitalizations, no deaths
• Spotsylvania County: 155 cases, 23 hospitalizations, four deaths
• Stafford County: 251 cases, 44 hospitalizations, two deaths

SEE ALSO:

• VA Coronavirus: Daily Tests Reach 5,500 As State Aims For 10,000
• UVA Researchers Participate In Antiviral Drug's Successful Trial
• Northam To Allow Elective Surgeries, Dental Procedures In May
• VA Governor Outlines Reopening Criteria, Earliest Possible Date