COVID-19 in Virginia: LIVE updates for Thursday, March 26

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: 6,189 (+819 from Wednesday )
Number of Positive Tests: 460 (+69 from Wednesday)
Number of People Hospitalized: 65 (+6 from Wednesday)
Number of COVID-19-Linked Deaths: 13 (+4 from Wednesday)

City/County-by-County Breakdown of Cases

Accomack: 2 (+1)
Albemarle: 6 (+2)
Alexandria: 14 (+5)
Arlington: 54 (+8)
Amelia: 1 (new)
Amhearst: 1
Bedford: 2
Botetourt: 1
Charles City: 1
Charlottesville: 9 (+3)
Chesapeake 4 (+1)
Chesterfield: 12 (+1)
Culpeper: 2
Danville: 2
Fairfax: 79 (+3)
Fairfax City: 1
Fauquier: 1 (new)
Fluvanna: 3
Franklin County: 1
Frederick: 2
Fredericksburg: 1
Gloucester: 2
Goochland: 3
Halifax: 1
Hanover: 2
Hampton: 1 (new)
Harrisonburg: 3 (+1)
Henrico: 21 (+1)
Isle of Wight: 2
James City: 49 (+8)
Lee: 2
Louisa: 4 (+1)
Loudoun: 28 (+8)
Lynchburg: 1 (new)
Madison: 1
Manassas City: 3 (+1)
Mathews: 1
Mecklenburg: 3
Nelson: 1
Newport News: 8 (+4)
Norfolk: 6 (+1)
Nottoway: 1
Orange: 1
Pittsylvania: 1 (new)
Poquoson: 1 (new)
Portsmouth: 3
Prince Edward: 2
Prince George: *2 (+1 -- data from local health department)
Prince William: 36 (+4)
Radford: 1 (new)
Richmond City: 14 (+1)
Roanoke County: 1
Rockbridge: 1
Rockingham: 2
Shenandoah: 3
Spotsylvania: 2
Stafford: 7 (+1)
Suffolk: 1
Virginia Beach: 26 (+3)
Warren: 1 (new)
Washington: 1 (new)
Williamsburg: 5
York: 9 (+1)

*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.

COVID-19 LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

Second COVID-19 case confirmed in Prince George County

A second case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Prince George County, the Crater Health District (CHD) has confirmed Thursday. More here.

50-69 year olds most impacted by COVID-19 in Virginia, new data reveals

Virginia health officials released new information about who has tested positive for COVID-19 as cases continued to climb in the Commonwealth Thursday.

Sixty-nine more people tested positive for the virus out of the 819 people tested since Wednesday's update, according numbers published by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). That brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in Virginia to 460. More here.

Bon Secours suspends patient bills related to COVID-19 testing and treatments

Bon Secours announced Thursday they have suspended all patient statements and billing related to the testing and treatment of COVID-19. More here.

VCU preps dorm for potential patients

VCU notified students Thursday it was transforming some Honors College dorm rooms at 701 West Grace Street into overflow housing for potential patients amid the COVID-19 outbreak. More here.

Virginia's SNAP program issues emergency benefits

Participants in Virginia's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) received emergency benefits Wednesday to aid in Coronavirus relief. More here.

Popular northern Virginia bar sees coronavirus exposure

Officials in Alexandria are warning patrons at one of the city's most popular bars about exposure to the coronavirus. More here.

First-responders forced to take extra precautions when responding to scenes

First-responders and 911 dispatchers are having to change the way they do their jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

EMS units must now wear personal protective gear and take extra precautions when on crime scenes.

Anyone who calls 911 may receive additional questions from dispatchers to determine if EMS units could be at risk of being exposed to COVID-19. More here.

Small business owners face barriers in applying for government loans

As the number of COVID-19 cases began growing in the Commonwealth, small business owners began preparing for the potential economic impacts. Jimmy Comer, who is the co-owner of RBI Services in Hanover County, said he tried to apply for a small business loan through the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority. More here.

NN Burger offers sanitizer and toilet paper with takeout orders

NN Burger, with locations in Tappahannock and Kilmarnock, is now offering hand sanitizer and toilet paper along with takeout orders. More here.

Non-profit mobilizes to help vulnerable foster families, children

Vulnerable children in Virginia could become “secondary victims” of the community response to slow the spread of COVID-19, according to foster care advocates. A local non-profit is now organizing a “Foster Care Survival Kit” drive to help foster families and children through uncertain times. More here.

YMCA Emergency Childcare Program expands to Chesterfield and Henrico

One day after Governor Ralph Northam announced all Virginia schools will be closed for the remainder of the academic school year, the YMCA of Greater Richmond announced their emergency childcare program will expand to Chesterfield and Henrico Counties.

In addition to emergency childcare at its Downtown location, the YMCA of Greater Richmond will offer the service at four other locations: Shady Grove, Tuckahoe, Midlothian and Chester. More here.

Richmond area seamstresses make face masks for Central Virginia nurses

Hundreds of seamstresses and community members have joined a grassroots effort to get handmade face masks to Central Virginia first responders. Julie Kratzer helped organize the Facebook group “RVA Masks 4 Health” shortly after the novel coronavirus pandemic began. More here.

Essential vs. non-essential: What's closed in Virginia?

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam ordered all Virginia schools and non-essential businesses closed in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“I know the next several weeks will be difficult," he said. "These restrictions on non-essential businesses will create hardships on the businesses and employees affected. But they are necessary, and we do not undertake them lightly. I am calling on Virginians to sacrifice now, so that we can get through this together." More here.

Photographer showcases beauty of quarantined Henrico family

Photographers across the country are bringing the photoshoot to front steps when quarantined families can’t leave their house. 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.

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

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