COVID-19 in Virginia: LIVE updates for Saturday, March 21

RICHMOND, Va. -- In an effort to provide accurate, easy-to-read information on the on-going COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on our community, WTVR.com will update this post with the day's local coronavirus headlines and statistics.

COVID-19 in Virginia (Scroll to bottom for U.S. stats)

Number of People Tested: 2,790 (+465 from Friday)
Number of Positive Tests: 152 (+38 from Friday)
Number of People Hospitalized: 25 (+5 from Friday)
Number of COVID-19-Linked Deaths: 2 (no change)

City/County-by-County Breakdown of Cases

Accomack: 1
Albemarle: 1 (new since Friday)
Alexandria: 5 (+2 from Friday)
Arlington County: 22 (+5 from Friday)
Botetourt: 1 (new)
Charles City County: 1
Charlottesville: 1
Chesterfield County: 5
Fairfax County: 22 (+6 from Friday)
Glocuester: 2 (+1 from Friday)
Goochland County: 2 (+1 from Friday)
Hanover County: 1
Harrisonburg: 1
Henrico County: 7 (+4 from Friday)
Isle of Wight: 1 (new)
James City County: 20 (+1 from Friday)
Loudon County: 14 (+5 from Friday)
Portsmouth: 1 (new)
Prince Edward County: 1
Prince William County: 14 (+2 from Friday)
Richmond City: 6 (+1 from Friday)
Spotsylvania County: 1
Stafford County: 2
Virginia Beach: 4
Williamsburg: 4
York County: 3

*NOTE: This data is provided from the Virginia Department of Health daily at noon. Officials said their cutoff for data is 5 p.m. the previous day. So your local health department may have issued an alert about a case before it is added to the statewide tally released the following day.

NEWS CONFERENCES

Gov. Ralph Northam's 11 a.m. COVID-19 briefing
President Donald Trumps's coronavirus task force 1 p.m. briefing

COVID-19 LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

Fairfax man is Virginia's third COVID-19 death

A third person in Virginia has died as a result of COVID-19, officials with the Fairfax County Health Department said Saturday evening.

"The patient was a male in his 60s who acquired COVID-19 through contact with a previously reported case," health department officials said. "The cause of death was respiratory failure as a result of COVID-19."

Twenty-two people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Fairfax County as of Saturday, according to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). More here.

Louisa County resident tests positive for COVID-19

Authorities said a Louisa County resident has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

"The individual was tested on March 19 and has been quarantined since that time," Louisa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Babyok said. "The test results came back today."More here.

COVID-19 cases in Virginia top 152; state revises testing criteria

Virginia health officials said Saturday that 152 people have tested positive for COVID-19. That is an increase of 38 cases from Friday. There are cases in all parts of the Commonwealth.

Central Region -- 25
Eastern Region -- 42
Northern Region -- 77
Northwest Region -- 6
Southwest Region -- 2

Virginia Department of Health Deputy Commissioner of Population Health Laurie Forlano said the state has revised its COVID-19 testing requirements as "the situation has evolved."

"We're prioritizing healthcare workers and those responders who have had contact or cared for COVID-19 patients," Forlano said. "We want to make sure that they are protected, so we can ensure the continuity of care."

There is also a "priority" for healthcare facility outbreaks, Forlano said. More here.

Northam has warning for businesses that don't follow COVID-19 guidelines

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam warned businesses that do not follow the state's recommended social distancing guidelines and 10-person restrictions could lose their operating permit "on the spot" and be charged with a misdemeanor.

"I'm proud of what most Virginians are doing, but let's be clear, there are a few people that are not yet getting the message," Northam said. More here.

Virginia unemployment claims spike due to COVID-19: 'We want everyone to apply

State officials are urging those who have lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic to file an unemployment claim, even if you've previously been rejected.

“We know that this situation is causing businesses to close and people to lose their jobs and their income,” said Governor Ralph Northam Friday. “We are working to help Virginia workers and businesses that are affected.” More here.

How lawmakers could make Virginia's COVID-19 response more effective, according to the experts

Americans are responding dramatically to the threat of COVID-19. Yet multiple experts say eliminating a specific type of regulation could make an impact on how successfully states combat the virus.

“With the benefit of hindsight, it’s clear Virginia should have gotten rid of Certificate of Public Need laws years ago,” says Dr. Matthew Mitchell, a Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. More here.

Richmond YMCA will offer emergency childcare for doctors, nurses

City officials announced the YMCA of Greater Richmond will provide emergency childcare to elementary and middle school-aged children of essential medical personnel in Richmond.

Richmond Mayor Stoney made the announcement outside the Downtown YMCA, which will open Monday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. More here.

Richmond Public School to expand meal distribution program

Richmond Public Schools is expanding its meal-delivery program by using buses to bring food to 34 locations around the city. More here.

Woman battling lupus has message in light of COVID-19: ‘Stay home and heed the warning’

The 'what if' is what keeps Anissa Garnett up at night as the spread of COVID-19 continues across Virginia.

"Yeah, we may have enough ventilators and enough beds in our hospitals right now, but what happens if we don't get in front of the curve and close these places?" Garnett asked. More here.

Richmond Restaurants United makes plea: 'We need your help'

In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, a collection of Richmond restaurant owners and workers has come together to form Richmond Restaurants United.

In addition to providing online resources to the thousands of Richmond-area restaurant employees who lost their jobs when dining rooms across the region closed in an effort to slow the spread of the virus, the group urged immediate action from the government to help those left suddenly unemployed. More here.

Explore Virginia's museums, zoos, and historical sites through these virtual experiences

As Virginians adjusts to social-distancing measures and businesses and institutions close their doors, online learning experiences are growing in importance. And in the Commonwealth, there's no shortage of online, interactive learning experiences. From exploring the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts collections to interacting with animals at the Virginia zoo to an online stroll through Lewis Ginter Botanical gardens, kids and adults alike can explore the state's treasures from the comfort of their own homes. More here.

100 years ago, Richmond survived 'The Spanish Flu'

When Adair Archer’s country needed him the most. the soldier answered the call. The 26-year-old sergeant lost his life in October 1918 during World War I. His death made front page news in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, but the University of Virginia graduate did not die from wounds on a battlefield, dhe ied at the hands of an invisible enemy. More here.

COMPLETE COVERAGE: COVID-19 HEADLINES (App users, click here for complete list.)

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