Death toll rising in Page County

By Randy Arrington

LURAY, May 5 — On Tuesday morning, the Virginia Department of Health reported three new deaths in Page County related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

That brings the total fatalities from the virus to five in the county — and there will be more reported in the coming days.

Charleen Pettit, media spokesperson for Skyview Springs Rehab and Nursing Center, told Page Valley News Tuesday morning that the Luray facility has had eight deaths related to COVID-19 — three in the last two days. The first occurred on April 27.

Data reported at 9 a.m. each day by VDH represents information submitted by hospitals, healthcare facilities and independent laboratories by 5 p.m. the previous day. Skyview Springs had another death this morning from the outbreak, but it may not show up in VDH data for another day or two.

On April 21, Skyview Springs reported that a resident had tested positive for COVID-19. The next day all 109 residents in the 120-bed facility were tested, along with 115 staff members. Among those, 59 residents and 18 staff members tested positive.

Since the novel coronavirus was first reported in Page County on March 31, there have been a total of 113 reported cases. That figure did not change overnight, breaking a streak of 13 consecutive days with new cases being reported in Page. One new hospitalization was reported by VDH on Tuesday, bringing the county’s total to 12.

No residents of Skyview Springs are currently hospitalized, according to Pettit. Last week, the facility reported that 11 residents had been treated at the hospital and returned, and two others (at that time) were hospitalized at Winchester Medical Center.

“We are still treating it as an active virus,” Pettit said. “We’re watching all of the residents closely.”

Among the 18 staff members that tested positive for COVID-19, two have returned to work, Pettit said.

The facility continues to work with the Lord Fairfax Health District and Valley Health System to monitor and care for their residents.

“We just want to once again say thank you for the support we continue to receive from the community,” Pettit added. “We still appreciate everything they are doing for us.”

On Tuesday morning, Randy Atkins, marketing director for Valley Care Management, said there were no cases of COVID-19 at any of their facilities.

“Everything is still good, and we are thankful,” Atkins said.

VCM owns and operates Hawksbill Assisted Living and Whispering Pines in Luray, and Journey’s Crossing in Elkton.

Across the health district, 35 new cases were reported on Tuesday, with two new hospitalizations (Page and Shenandoah) and four new deaths (one in Shenandoah). Page County was the only locality in the health district to not report any new cases on Tuesday, with the bulk of new cases coming from Shenandoah County (16). A breakdown by jurisdiction of total reported COVID-19 cases within the district is as follows (hospitalizations – deaths):

• 165 — Shenandoah County (13-3)
• 132 — Frederick County (13-1)
• 113 — Page County (12-5)
• 68 — Warren County (4-0)
• 56 — City of Winchester (1-0)
• 12 — Clarke County (1-0)

Harrisonburg also reported three new virus-related deaths on Tuesday, along with 28 new cases of COVID-19 and three new hospitalizations. The Friendly City, who was also hit hard by an outbreak at a nursing facility, has reported a total of 525 cases, with 31 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.

On April 18, Accordius Health reported that 81 residents in the 97-bed facility had tested positive for COVID-19, along with 12 of 35 staff members. At last count, the Daily News-Record reports that at least 21 residents at the South Avenue facility have died from COVID-19.

Rockingham County reported 13 new cases on Tuesday, with one new hospitalization.

Across the state, 764 new cases were reported on Tuesday — a slight decrease from the previous day, and a second day of decreasing new cases in Virginia. Hospitalizations rose by 73 — same as the previous day, but still (like new cases) the lowest increase in about a week. The total number of deaths in Virginia stands at 713, with 29 added this morning. 

Testing continues at a heightened pace, with more than 5,000 being administered yesterday.

While statewide numbers have dropped in the last two days, “hot spots” across the state (especially in Northern Virginia) continue to climb at a steady pace. A breakdown by jurisdiction of total reported COVID-19 cases among Virginia’s biggest outbreaks is as follows (hospitalizations – deaths):

• 4,834 — Fairfax County (787-201)

• 2,223 — Prince William County (225-33)
• 1,169 — Arlington County (196-49)
• 998 — Loudoun County (100-24)
• 985 — Henrico County (139-106)
• 983 — Alexandria (120-26)
• 646 — Chesterfield County (56-25)
• 445 — Virginia Beach (83-15)
• 438 — City of Richmond (76-16)

The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association reported on Tuesday that 1,496 people are currently hospitalized in the state who have either been confirmed to have COVID-19 or are awaiting test results. Among those, 361 are in intensive care and 189 are on ventilators.

VHH also reports that 2,617 people who were hospitalized with COVID-19 have been discharged.