By Randy Arrington
LURAY, July 29 — Wednesday’s report from the Virginia Department of Health showed statewide increases in cases, hospitalizations and deaths related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deaths showed the largest increase as VDH reported 30 new fatalities related to the coronavirus on Wednesday, compared to 13 on Tuesday. Prior to that, the state’s daily death toll had remained in the single digits for three days. It’s been two weeks since the number of statewide COVID-19 deaths has reached double digits for two consecutive days. A total of 2,125 people in Virginia have died from COVID-19 since March 14.
The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association reported Wednesday that 1,350 people are currently hospitalized that have either been confirmed to have COVID-19 or are awaiting test results. That figure is up 56 since yesterday and has jumped 176 in three days.
Among those hospitalized, 276 are in intensive care, according to VHHA — up 15 since yesterday. Currently, there are 155 COVID-19 patients statewide on ventilators. That figure is up 15 over the last two days.
Virginia added 999 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, according to the state health department. Since July 10, the state has seen new cases rise to levels reported during Virginia’s peak in late May. The highest one-day total came on May 26 with 1,615 new cases reported. Three days ago, there were 1,505 new cases.
With current outbreaks in the densely populated Tidewater region (especially around Hampton Roads), state health officials project new cases could surpass 2,000 daily by early September.
By contrast, Page County has been relatively quiet, with only six new cases reported in the past seven days. Two cases were reported last Thursday and Saturday, while one new case surfaced on Monday and Tuesday. No new cases were reported in Page County on Wednesday.
ZIP code data shows those recent cases were spread across the county, as opposed to originating all in the same area. With only six new cases being reported among 167 tests administered for COVID-19 countywide over the past week, that gives Page County a 3.6 percent positivity rate for the last seven days.
Despite the positive trend in new cases, Page County also reported four new hospitalizations and one death in the past week as well.
The Lord Fairfax Health District has reported 13 new cases in the last two days, with five each in Frederick and Shenandoah counties. Clarke County had two.
Three new hospitalizations were reported in the health district on Wednesday, with two in Frederick County and one in Warren County. No new deaths related to the pandemic have been reported in the district in six days.
A cumulative breakdown by jurisdiction of the health district’s 2,439 reported cases, 213 hospitalizations and 82 deaths is as follows (hospitalizations – deaths):
- 665 — Shenandoah County (70-40)
- 644 — Frederick County (49-7)
- 390 — City of Winchester (28-4)
- 344 — Warren County (23-7)
- 330 — Page County (36-24)
- 66 — Clarke County (7-0)
Since the pandemic hit Virginia in mid-February, VHHA reports that 11,650 people who have been confirmed to have COVID-19 and were hospitalized, have been discharged.
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