RICHMOND, Va. – Two localities are reporting their first cases of COVID-19, according to Virginia Department of Health (VDH) data released Thursday.
Cases were reported for the first time in Cumberland and Salem.
Officials said 222 more people tested positive for COVID-19 out of the 2,245 people tested since Wednesday's update. That brings Virginia's total number of cases to 1,706.
Officials said 246 people remain hospitalized and 41 people have died as a result of COVID-19-related illnesses.
Officials are investigating "distinct clusters" where there is "local transmission" of the virus in Virginia.
Those clusters include 328 cases in Fairfax County, 128 in Arlington County, 121 in Loudon County, 117 in Prince William County, 111 in Virginia Beach, 97 in James City County, 87 in Henrico County and 73 in Chesterfield County.
VDH data showed the coronavirus has most impacted people aged 50 to 69 since that group accounts for 36 percent of cases.
"But we're also seeing cases in people in their 20s," Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam previoulsy said. "Ninety-three of the 604 cases are in the age range of 20 to 29 years."
In fact, Northam said that group accounts for nearly 14 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."
The breakdown of cases between men and women is now even with both sexes reporting 844 cases as of Thursday's update. Previously, slightly more men had been infected with the virus. No gender was reported for 18 cases in the Commonwealth.
City/County-by-County Breakdown of Cases
Accomack: 10 (+3)
Albemarle: 23 (+2)
Alleghany: 2 (+1)
Alexandria: 33 (+1)
Arlington: 128 (+9)
Amelia: 4 (+2)
Amherst: 6 (+1)
Augusta: 2 (+1)
Bedford: 3
Bristol: 1
Botetourt: 8 (+2)
Brunswick: 1
Buckingham: 2
Campbell: 2
Carroll: 1
Charles City: 4 (+2)
Charlottesville: 17 (+1)
Chesapeake: 39 (+8)
Chesterfield: 73 (+14)
Clarke: 1
Covington: 1
Culpeper: 6 (+1)
Cumberland: 1 (new)
Danville: 7 (+3)
Emporia: *2 (from local health department)
Fairfax: 328 (+40)
Fauquier: 8 (+1)
Fluvanna: 4 (+1)
Franklin City: 1
Franklin County: 6 (+1)
Frederick: 16 (+1)
Fredericksburg: 2 (+1)
Galax: 1
Gloucester: 8
Goochland: 9 (+2)
Greene: 1
Greenesville: 3
Halifax: 1
Hanover: 8 (+2)
Hampton: 16 (+2)
Harrisonburg: 15 (+5)
Henrico: 87 (+9)
Henry: 2
Hopewell: 5 (+1)
Isle of Wight: 8 (+3)
James City: 97 (+2)
Lancaster: 1
King George: 4
King and Queen: 1
King William: 1
Lee: 2
Louisa: 12 (+1)
Loudoun: 121 (+ 16)
Lynchburg: 9 (+2)
Madison: 3
Manassas City: 12 (+3)
Manassas Park: 1
Mathews: 2
Mecklenburg: 5 (+1)
Montgomery: 1
Nelson: 2
New Kent: 3 (+2)
Newport News: 33 (+4)
Norfolk: 37 (+4)
Northampton: 3 (+2)
Northumberland: 3
Nottoway: 1
Orange: 4
Page: 2 (+1)
Petersburg: 4
Pittsylvania: 1
Poquoson: 3
Portsmouth: 16 (+3)
Powhatan: 3 (-1)
Prince Edward: 2
Prince George: 8
Prince William: 117 (+11)
Radford: 1
Richmond City: 52 (+19)
Roanoke City: 9 (+3)
Roanoke County: 4
Rockbridge: 2
Rockingham: 11 (+2)
Salem: 1 (new)
Shenandoah: 9 (+1)
Smyth: 2
Spotsylvania: 9 (+1)
Southampton: 2 (+1)
Stafford: 27 (-1)
Suffolk: 6
Surry: 1
Sussex: 1
Tazewell: 2
Virginia Beach: 111 (+23)
Warren: 3
Washington: 2
Waynesboro: 2
Winchester: 5
Williamsburg: 9
Wythe: 2
York: 17 (+1)
*NOTE: This data is provided from the Virginia Department of Health daily at 9 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.
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.
Depend on CBS 6 News and WTVR.com for the most complete coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
