There are currently 13,579,581 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, around the world and 3,499,398 confirmed cases across the country. The global total number of deaths stands at 584,794, and the United States’ at 137,419. Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University has been keeping up-to-date information through an interactive map.
As of Thursday morning, Virginia had 73,527 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 6,905 people hospitalized, 1,992 deaths and 842,124 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 14,653 to date, with 1,753 hospitalized and 502 deaths. Arlington has reported 2,677 cases with 422 hospitalized and 134 deaths. Alexandria has 2,486 cases with 253 hospitalized and 57 deaths. Loudoun County has 4,519 cases with 301 hospitalized and 101 deaths and Prince William County has 9,907 cases (including Manassas and Manassas City), with 869 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 159,569 in the DMV on Wednesday morning. Maryland reported 75,016 cases, Virginia reported 73,527 and Washington, DC reported 11,026. The death toll has reached a total of 5,772, with 3,209 in Maryland, 1,992 in Virginia and 571 in DC. (Virginia Department of Health; Maryland Department of Health; Stay Home DC!)
Local
Prince William County students will not be returning to school when the fall semester starts on Tuesday, Sept. 8. In a vote by the school board on Wednesday, the board was split 4-4 on a hybrid model that would have brought students back to campus twice a week, with 100% virtual learning as an option. A compromise came forward that the first semester would be entirely virtual learning, with the second semester transitioning into the hybrid model, which got unanimous support from the school board. (WTOP)
Local
Virginia high school football will not return in the fall, after the Virginia High School League voted unanimously to delay the beginning of fall sports until a final decision is made on Monday, July 27. There are several options to bring back other athletics for the fall, but football has remained out of the picture. Different models would allow for low-contact, low-risk sports to retain their season, and postpone all high-contact sports, as well as a switching of the spring and fall seasons, moving track and field, baseball and soccer to the fall, and high-contact sports to the spring. The situation will continue to unfold as the organization makes its final decision later this month. (WTOP)
Regional
The DMV saw its largest increase in new coronavirus cases since June 4 on Wednesday, with many sourced from the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. Between Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, the DMV has reported nearly 160,000 cases of COVID-19. On Tuesday, Gov. Ralph Northam announced that the state was looking at the tidal region as an area of concern, and other area leaders are taking notice of steady increases in their jurisdictions as well. DC leaders said Wednesday that a key transmission rate metric rose to alarming levels for the first time since late April. “Our message continues to be the same: The virus is still in our community, it’s still circulating and we have to be very vigilant in wearing masks, practicing social distancing and washing our hands, and in being judicious about the activities that we participate in,” said DC Mayor Muriel E. Bowser in a Wednesday press conference. (The Washington Post)
Regional
Washington, DC has tested 13,706 blood samples for antibodies of the novel coronavirus, a notable sign if someone may have had the virus without knowing it (being asymptomatic or otherwise), as well as a sign of the potential for herd immunity on the deadly disease. Unfortunately, only 809 of those samples came back positive for COVID-19 antibodies. For reference, that’s less than 6% of the people who have sought out antibody testing. It is important to note that the science around antibody testing remains uncertain, since most of the free antibody tests conducted by Washington, DC (which will take place now through Saturday, Aug. 15), only displays whether or not the subject has the antibodies, not how much. Scientists are unaware if there is a certain amount of antibodies that a person needs in order to be “immune” to the virus, or how long the antibodies last in a person’s system. (The Washington Post)
Statewide
Virginia has officially adopted the first-in-the-nation workplace safety standards relating to COVID-19, announced by Gov. Ralph Northam on July 15. The new safety rules are aiming to protect Virginia workers “by mandating appropriate personal protective equipment, sanitation, social distancing, infectious disease preparedness and response plans, record keeping, training and hazard communications in workplaces across the Commonwealth,” according to the press release. All employers must mandate social-distancing measures and face coverings for employees, provide frequent hand washing or hand sanitizer and regularly clean high-contact surfaces. Also, all employees must be contacted within 24 hours if someone at the business tests positive for the novel coronavirus. (Virginia Governor)
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