RICHMOND, Va. – Eight localities are reporting their first cases of COVID-19, according to Virginia Department of Health (VDH) data released Friday.
New cases were reported in Bristol, Galax, Greene, King George, Northampton, Prince George, Roanoke City and Southampton County.
Officials said 144 more people tested positive for COVID-19 out of the 1,148 people tested since Thursday's update. That brings Virginia's total number of cases to 604.
Officials said 83 people remain hospitalized and 14 people have died as a result of COVID-19-related illnesses.
VDH data showed the coronavirus has most impacted people aged 50 to 69 since that group accounts for more than 36 percent of cases.
"But we're also seeing cases in people in their 20s," Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Friday. "Ninety-three of the 604 cases are in the age range of 20 to 29 years."
In fact, Northam said that group accounts for 16 percent of cases in the state.
"There has been some talk, and I have seen activity around Virginia, that this only affects the elderly. Well, it doesn't. It affects all of us, "Northam said. "So take this seriously and please stay home."
Slightly more men have been infected by the virus at 313 cases versus the 283 cases reported in women.
Officials are investigating "distinct clusters" where there is "local transmission" of the virus in Virginia.
Those clusters include 124 cases in Fairfax County, 63 in Arlington County, 55 in James City County, 44 in Prince William County, 43 in Loudon County and 29 in Virginia Beach.
City/County-by-County Breakdown of Cases
Accomack: 2
Albemarle: 8 (+2)
Alexandria: 18 (+4)
Arlington: 63 (+9)
Amelia: 1
Amherst: 1
Bedford: 2
Bristol: 1 (new)
Botetourt: 1
Charles City: 1
Charlottesville: 11 (+2)
Chesapeake 5 (+1)
Chesterfield: 12
Culpeper: 2
Danville: 4 (+2)
Fairfax: 124 (+45)
Fauquier: 4 (+3)
Fluvanna: 3
Franklin County: 1
Frederick: 4 (+2)
Fredericksburg: 1
Galax: 1 (new)
Gloucester: 3 (+1)
Goochland: 3
Greene: 1 (new)
Halifax: 1
Hanover: 2
Hampton: 5 (+4)
Harrisonburg: 5 (+2)
Henrico: 28 (+7)
Isle of Wight: 2
James City: 55 (+6)
King George: 1 (new)
Lee: 2
Louisa: 5 (+1)
Loudoun: 43 (+15)
Lynchburg: 2 (+1)
Madison: 2 (+1)
Manassas City: 3
Mathews: 1
Mecklenburg: 4 (+1)
Nelson: 1
Newport News: 12 (+4)
Norfolk: 8 (+2)
Northampton: 1 (new)
Nottoway: 1
Orange: 1
Pittsylvania: 1
Poquoson: 1
Portsmouth: 3
Prince Edward: 2
Prince George: 2 (new)
Prince William: 44 (+8)
Radford: 1
Richmond City: 17 (+3)
Roanoke City: 1 (new)
Roanoke County: 1
Rockbridge: 1
Rockingham: 4 (+2)
Shenandoah: 3
Spotsylvania: 2
Southampton: 1 (new)
Stafford: 11 (+4)
Suffolk: 1
Virginia Beach: 29 (+3)
Warren: 2 (+1)
Washington: 1
Williamsburg: 5
York: 9
*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 Precautions
Most patients with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms. However, in a small proportion of patients, COVID-19 can lead to more severe illness, including death, particularly among those who are older or those who have chronic medical conditions.
COVID-19 spreads primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Symptoms appear within 14 days of being exposed to an infectious person.
Virginia health officials urged the following precautions:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer only if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Avoid non-essential travel.