COVID-19 in Virginia: LIVE updates for Wednesday, August 19

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)

Positive COVID-19 Cases: 109,019 (+737 from Tuesday)
People Hospitalized: 8,925 (+76 from Tuesday)
COVID-19-Linked Deaths: 2,410 (+14 from Tuesday)
Total Tests: 1,502,044 (+17,292 from Tuesday)
All Health Districts Current 7-Day Positivity Rate Total: 6.9%

Click here for complete city/county-by-county breakdown of COVID-19 cases in Virginia

NOTE: This data is provided from the Virginia Department of Healthdaily at 10 a.m. 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. Get the latest charts and updated numbers from VDH here. *Data fromJohns Hopkins University COVID-19 Tracker.

COVID-19 LOCAL HEADLINES

COVID-19 in Virginia: 2 new outbreaks reported Sunday
Data show 352 (+1 from yesterday's report) outbreaks at long-term care facilities with a total of 8,768 COVID-19 cases and 1,297 deaths. That is up 13 cases and no additional deaths from the previous day's report. One new outbreaks was also reported in a congregate setting. Read more.

Nearly 90 more COVID-19 patients discharged in Virginia; hospitalizations down
Nearly 90 additional COVID-19 patients have been discharged from Virginia hospitals in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. Read more.

Vaping linked to higher risk of Covid-19 in teens, young adults
Vaping is being linked to an increased risk of Covid-19 among teenagers and young adults, according to a new study. Read more.

Russia clears virus vaccine despite scientific skepticism
Russian President Vladimir Putin says that a coronavirus vaccine developed in his country has been cleared for use and one of his daughters has already been inoculated, even as international experts have questioned its safety. Read more.

US reaches 5 million confirmed coronavirus cases
Health officials believe the actual number is perhaps 10 times higher, or closer to 50 million, given testing limitations and the fact that as many as 40% of all those who are infected have no symptoms. Read more.

Virginia Supreme Court grants statewide eviction moratorium through September
Governor Ralph Northam announced Friday that the Supreme Court of Virginia has granted his request for a statewide eviction moratorium through September 7. Read more.

Law expert explains what eviction moratorium means for Virginians
“Eviction cases can be heard, judgments can be issued, but these writs of eviction can not be served upon,” Steven Fischbach, the litigation director for the Virginia Poverty Law Center, stated. “If you’re summoned to court, you still need to go, you may still get a judgment against you, but you’ll not be forced out of your house.”Read more.

Trump says he'll sign executive order on payroll taxes, student loans, unemployment
President Donald Trump on Friday said that he is ready to sign an executive order that will offer unemployment supplements, eviction protection, and a payroll tax holiday through the end of the year. Trump said the order could "by the end of the week," and that he has lawyers currently drawing up the order. Read more.

Rebuild VA grant offering up to $10,000 in COVID 19 relief
In July, Governor Northam announced a new COVID-19 grant fund aimed at helping small businesses and nonprofits stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.

CDC gives recommendation for vaccinations during pandemic
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued recommendations for those looking to receive vaccinations during the pandemic. Read more.

Should masks be worn at family gatherings? How the holidays may look different
For most Americans, wearing a mask in public has become part of the daily routine, and in most states, they’re required in indoor spaces. Read more.

School lifts suspension of student who posted photo of crowded hallway
A Georgia student who was suspended for posting a photo of a crowded school hallway on social media is free to return to classes. Read more.

How state health leaders say Virginia's new COVID-19 app protects your privacy
The Virginia Department of Health’s new COVID-19 smartphone app was downloaded 172,000 times the first day it launched statewide. A spokesperson for VDH said those figures were as of 4 p.m. Thursday. However, they did not know how many people had also opted-in to the app. Read more.

Virginia first state to try pandemic app from Apple, Google
Virginia has rolled out a smartphone app to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus. It's the first U.S. state to use new pandemic technology created by Apple and Google. Read more.

How you can get the help you need during the RVA Weekend of Action
The devastating impact of COVID-19 continues to leave families reeling. Some are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. This weekend, neighbors are helping neighbors. Read more.

Chesterfield seeks public input on how to spend $50m in CARES Act funding
Chesterfield County is seeking the public's input on how to best spend nearly $50 million in federal CARES Act funding. Read more.

Sean recognizes Chesterfield daycare staff for hard work during pandemic
In the latest edition of CBS 6 gives, sports anchor Sean Robertson made a visit to The Goddard School in Chesterfield to thank the staff for their hard work during the coronavirus pandemic. Read more.

Fauci pressed on protests amid coronavirus pandemic
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, questioned Dr. Anthony Fauci on Friday on why protests were permitted in the wake of the death of George Floyd amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read more.

CDC: Hundreds of kids infected with coronavirus at camp
More than 40 percent of attendees at an overnight summer camp became infected with Covid-19 within days before officials shut it down, according to the CDC. Read more.

Experts: Colleges need to ramp up coronavirus testing in order to reopen
Colleges are trying to figure out how students can safely get back to school, as more schools are choosing to go online only for the fall. Read more.

Virginia Beach restaurants prepare for new restrictions
hether it’s a shot of vodka or a pint of your favorite beer, you’re going to need to get the order in by 9:59 p.m if you're in the Virginia Beach or Hampton Roads area. Read more.

Northam issues executive order with tighter COVID-19 restrictions for Hampton Roads
Governor Ralph Northam issued an executive order Tuesday tightening COVID-19 restrictions in the Hampton Roads. The executive order comes as the percent positivity in the region continues to rise. Read more.

White House COVID-19 adviser visits Richmond, makes recommendations to mitigate virus spread
Dr. Deborah Birx, one of the White House's top coronavirus advisers, made a stop in Richmond Tuesday to meet with Governor Ralph Northam and participate in a roundtable with community and state health officials. Read more.

VHSL votes to move fall sports to the spring
High school football won't be played in Virginia this fall, but it could be played this spring, after the Virginia High School League (VHSL) voted Monday to move fall sports to the spring. Read more:

'We will be watching,' Northam warns after Virginia COVID-19 cases jump 1,200 Saturday
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued a warning after the state reported 1,245 positive COVID-19 cases Saturday. That marked the largest single-day jump since 1,284 cases were reported June 7. Read more.

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LATEST COVID-19 U.S. AND WORLDWIDE STATS