There are currently 13,323,530 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, around the world and 3,431,574 confirmed cases across the country. The global total number of deaths stands at 578,628, and the United States’ at 136,466. Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University has been keeping up-to-date information through an interactive map.
As of Wednesday morning, Virginia had 72,443 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 6,817 people hospitalized, 1,977 deaths and 828,017 people tested. Fairfax has the highest total number of cases, with 14,574 to date, with 1,723 hospitalized and 500 deaths. Arlington has reported 2,660 cases with 422 hospitalized and 134 deaths. Alexandria has 2,465 cases with 250 hospitalized and 57 deaths. Loudoun County has 4,458 cases with 296 hospitalized and 99 deaths and Prince William County has 9,845 cases (including Manassas and Manassas City), with 864 hospitalized and 182 deaths. You can keep up with the commonwealth’s daily updates here. (Virginia Department of Health)
If you or someone you know is exhibiting symptoms for COVID-19, or has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, please consider getting tested. Find a testing location near you here.
Regional
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, tallied in at 157,649 in the DMV on Wednesday morning. Maryland reported 74,260 cases, Virginia reported 72,443 and Washington, DC reported 10,946. The death toll has reached a total of 5,747, with 3,202 in Maryland, 1,977 in Virginia and 568 in DC. (Virginia Department of Health; Maryland Department of Health; Stay Home DC!)
Local
“We’re seeing some troubling numbers,” said Gov. Ralph Northam in his Tuesday press conference. “I know we all hoped this virus would go away, but that’s clearly not the case. We are in this for the long haul.” The governor announced that the area of concern for rising cases is Hampton Roads, where the positivity rate has reached 10.1%, as opposed to the state’s average of around 6.5%. In recent days, the Hampton Roads area has seen its daily average of new cases rise from 60 in early June, to an average of 346. In our area, although Northern Virginia accounts for two-thirds of the state’s population, the positivity percentage is 6.7%, and new cases remain low as other parts of the country continue to see surges. Gov. Northam did warn that with the majority of new cases coming from the tidewater region, he would be reviewing beach guidelines with local jurisdictions, and allowing the Virginia Department of Health to further enforce violations of state guidelines, such as not wearing face coverings indoors or not following social distancing measures. He also noted that new cases in the age group 20 to 29 years old are up 250%, showing substantial community spread are at least partially due to young adults not wearing masks. “It is very concerning,” said Gov. Northam. (NBC12)
Local
Arlington reported its highest one-day total of new cases since late May on Tuesday, with 34 new cases announced. The new cases bring the county’s seven-day total to 110, the first time the number has been in the triple digits since June. No new hospitalizations or deaths were reported overnight. Arlington has reported about 1.1 cases per every 100 residents, as compared to 1.6 and 1.3 cases for every 100 residents in neighboring Alexandria and Fairfax County. In aligning with trends elsewhere in the state, the highest demographic of new cases is young people, in the range of 20 to 29 years old. Since late May, nearly 2.5 times as many people in that age group have fallen ill compared to the 50 to 59 years old age group. (ARL Now)
Local
Arlington County’s superintendent Francisco Durán announced Tuesday during an online town hall meeting that he would prefer a gradual return to in-person learning over the 2020-2021 school year, rather than a complete shift to virtual classes. “We need to take our time,” Durán said. “I want to clarify and make sure people understand it is a pause.” Families in Arlington have been given the option by the school system to choose a full-time virtual learning schedule, or a hybrid in-person and virtual learning schedule, with a deadline of July 20 to submit their decision. The hybrid model is expected to have two days of in-person classes and three days of virtual learning, and staff and students will be required to wear face masks and practice social distancing when on school grounds. The superintendent also urged, “It is not taking away the hybrid model, but slowly phasing in when we will begin with the hybrid model for students,” said Durán. The goal is to have students who have chosen the hybrid model back in school by the start of the second quarter, based on health data and guidelines of health officials. (WTOP)
Local
The Manassas City School Board voted on Tuesday to start the 2020-2021 school year with full distance learning for all students, and to push the start of the school year back to Aug. 31. Some special education students and English-learning students will be allowed back on school campuses, but the remainder of students will be required to fulfill online learning requirements. “The safety and well-being of our staff and our students and their families is more important than the reopening of schools in person at this time,” said Board Member Suzanne Seaberg. “I acknowledge that option three is not ideal for some reasons. In some situations parents will need to find child care … these matters have to take a backseat to health and safety.” (WTOP)
National
Coronavirus is not just spreading in Arizona, Florida and Texas, the record numbers from positive COVID-19 cases and fatalities are also coming from Oklahoma, Nevada, the Carolinas and more. The United States reported 62,000 new cases on Tuesday, and the explosive growth of the virus is only being seen in the developing world and the U.S. The number of new cases reported in Florida over the past week outpaces the total count of new cases in European countries. Assisted living facilities and senior care communities are still not safe from the spread either, with a facility in Montana releasing that nearly every resident has tested positive for COVID-19, and before the outbreak began, the facility turned away free testing from the state. (The Washington Post)
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