There are currently 18,837,392 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, around the world and 4,824,175 confirmed cases across the country. The global total number of deaths stands at 708,301 and the United States’ at 158,268. Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University has been keeping up-to-date information through an interactive map.
As of Thursday morning, Virginia had 95,049 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 8,126 people hospitalized, 2,274 deaths and 1,176,180 people tested. Fairfax has the highest total number of cases, with 16,019 to date, with 1,905 hospitalized and 530 deaths. Arlington has reported 2,997 cases with 436 hospitalized and 135 deaths. Alexandria has 2,872 cases with 274 hospitalized and 60 deaths. Loudoun County has 5,117 cases with 240 hospitalized and 113 deaths and Prince William County has 11,264 cases (including Manassas and Manassas City), with 964 hospitalized and 202 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 199,918 in the DMV on Thursday morning. Maryland reported 92,426 cases, Virginia reported 95,049 and Washington, DC reported 12,443. The death toll has reached a total of 6,263, with 3,402 in Maryland, 2,274 in Virginia and 587 in DC. (Virginia Department of Health; Maryland Department of Health; Stay Home DC!
Statewide
On the evening of Aug. 5, Virginia became the first state to release a smartphone app that offers contact tracing of the novel coronavirus. The free app, titled Covidwise, automatically notifies people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus. The app was created in partnership with Apple and Google, relying on Bluetooth technology to detect when someone who downloaded the app has spent time near another app user who later tests positive for the virus. As of press time, several other states, including South Carolina, Alabama, North Dakota and Pennsylvania are considering adopting a similar framework within their states too. (WTOP)
Local
Northern Virginia reported significantly lower numbers of positive coronavirus cases on the evening of Aug. 5, after two consecutive days of high numbers locally and across the rest of Virginia. Northern Virginia’s seven-day average dropped to 189, and only three new deaths were reported in the region. (Inside NoVA)
National
For the 20th consecutive week, more than 1 million Americans filed jobless claims. While this week’s number dropped after two straight weeks of rising, the numbers still remain well above historic pre-pandemic levels, according to The Washington Post. This data comes at the same time as negotiations for a new coronavirus relief bill have stalled, leading President Trump to claim he would take matters into his own hands on Aug. 5. Trump said that he may use executive powers to bring back the eviction moratorium, suspend payroll tax and boost unemployment benefits, should a relief bill not be agreed upon in the coming days. (The Washington Post)
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