There are currently 8,196,735 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, around the world and 2,137,731 confirmed cases across the country. The global total number of deaths stands at 444,249, and the United States’ at 116,693. Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University has been keeping up-to-date information through an interactive map.
As of Wednesday morning, Virginia had 55,331 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 5,643 people hospitalized, 1,570 deaths and 483,024 people tested. Fairfax has the highest total number of cases, with 13,0103 to date, with 1,509 hospitalized and 428 deaths. Arlington has reported 2,363 cases with 407 hospitalized and 125 deaths. Alexandria has 2,168 cases with 224 hospitalized and 47 deaths. Loudoun County has 3,439 cases with 206 hospitalized and 76 deaths and Prince William County has 8,326 cases (including Manassas and Manassas City), with 753 hospitalized and 147 deaths. You can keep up with the commonwealth’s daily updates here. (Virginia Department of Health)
Regional
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, tallied in at 127,558 in the DMV on Wednesday morning. Maryland reported 62,409 cases, Virginia reported 55,331 and Washington, DC reported 9,818. The death toll has reached a total of 4,941, with 2,851 in Maryland, 1,570 in Virginia and 520 in DC. (Virginia Department of Health; Maryland Department of Health; Stay Home DC!)
Local
Arlington will have another free COVID-19 testing site this week, hosted at Barcroft sports complex on Friday, June 19. More than 1,100 people were tested there on May 26, and the testing site closed after all tests had been administered. For this week’s testing process at 4200 South Four Mile Drive, testing will be open to anyone, with or without COVID-19 symptoms, this Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (or until tests run out). Both in-car and walk-up testing will be offered. There is no charge and no need for a doctor’s note or identification. (ARL Now)
Regional
At the massive capital improvement project of overhauling Reagan National Airport, 17 employees of contractors have tested positive for COVID-19. The workers all tested positive or were presumed to have the virus, and the last positive result was on June 7. (Washington Business Journal)
National
Nine states have reported either new single-day highs or set a record for seven-day new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, according to an analysis conducted by The Washington Post. Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas have all seen increases in the confirmed number of cases since Memorial Day on May 29. Despite the rising fears of a “second wave” of infections, Vice President Mike Pence said the fears were “overblown” and claimed that “the media has tried to scare the American people.” (The Washington Post)
National
U.S. airlines could potentially ban flyers in the future for not wearing face masks while flying, according to Airlines for America, a trade organization for the industry. “Delta, Southwest, United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue and others will ‘clearly articulate’ their face-covering policies to passengers and may require customers to acknowledge the policy at check-in … If passengers don’t comply, carriers can implement their own consequences, which could include suspension of flying privileges,” reported The Washington Post. (The Washington Post)
Global
A new clinical trial conducted in Britain has found that dexamethasone, a widely available steroid, reduced the death rate for COVID-19 patients with severe lung damage. It did not show improvements for those who were not hospitalized for symptoms of the virus. It’s the first time that a drug has appeared to increase the odds of survival for the novel coronavirus. (The Washington Post)
If you’re looking for ways to stay entertained at home, check out our Things to Do page, and stay up to date with all things Northern Virginia by subscribing to our weekly newsletters.
