There are currently 13,832,242 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, around the world and 3,576,430 confirmed cases across the country. The global total number of deaths stands at 590,601, and the United States’ at 138,360. Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University has been keeping up-to-date information through an interactive map.
As of Friday morning, Virginia had 74,431 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 7,020 people hospitalized, 2,007 deaths and 858,312 people tested. The state’s current seven-day positivity rate is 7.2%, and has been rising steadily over the past week. Fairfax has the highest total number of cases, with 14,678 (+25) to date, with 1,767 hospitalized and 509 deaths. Arlington has reported 2,691 (+14) cases with 426 hospitalized and 134 deaths. Alexandria has 2,507 (+21) cases with 253 hospitalized and 56 deaths. Loudoun County has 4,557 (+38) cases with 308 hospitalized and 101 deaths and Prince William County has 9,941 (+34) cases (including Manassas and Manassas City), with 877 hospitalized and 185 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 161,171 in the DMV on Friday morning. Maryland reported 75,664 cases, Virginia reported 74,431 and Washington, DC reported 11,076. The death toll has reached a total of 5,796, with 3,215 in Maryland, 2,007 in Virginia and 574 in DC. (Virginia Department of Health; Maryland Department of Health; Stay Home DC!)
Local
The Overlee Community Association Pool has closed amid a possible COVID-19 outbreak, after announcing that three attendees tested positive for the virus after an intrasquad swim meet held over the weekend. There is quite the controversy surrounding the outbreak, with local residents sharing with ARL Now that the outbreak could be bigger, or that it isn’t confirmed at all. Regardless, the pool is closed and any recent attendees should monitor themselves and family members for potential symptoms of COVID-19. (ARL Now)
Regional
The University of Virginia will provide free COVID-19 test kits to all of its students, requiring them to test negative before returning to campus in the fall. All tests must be self-administered within a week of returning back to campus in Charlottesville, and only students who test negative (after receiving their test results within 24 to 48 hours) will be allowed to return. Students are also being highly encouraged to quarantine for up to 14 days before arriving on campus. (WTOP)
Statewide
Over 1 million first-time unemployment claims have been filed in Virginia in 2020. Ninety-seven percent of these have been claimed since the pandemic began to shut down businesses across the region in mid-March. In Northern Virginia, as reported by the Virginia Employment Commission on Thursday, the number of initial benefits claims increased for the second week in a row. Claims peaked at 147,000 during the week of April 4, but have fluctuated up and down ever since. (Inside NoVA)
National
The U.S. topped a new record on Wednesday, reporting more than 70,000 new, confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (77,225 to be exact). Fatalities are on the rise too, with record death rates reported in Florida, Texas and South Carolina on Thursday, and a rising fear that hospitals in the Sun Belt may not be able to handle the continuing surge of the epidemic. (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.