RICHMOND, Va. – Health officials are investigating 1,973 outbreaks of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, according to Virginia Department of Health (VDH) data released Saturday. That means5 new outbreaks were recorded since Friday's reporting.
Data show 731 (+1 change from yesterday's report) outbreaks at long-term care facilities with a total of 21,109 COVID-19 cases and 2,406 deaths. That is up 45 cases and 10 additional deaths from the previous day's report.
Two new outbreaks were recorded in a correctional facility and as well as two new outbreaks in a healthcare setting.
No new outbreaks were recorded in an educational setting: 99 (no change) outbreaks in child care centers, 53 (no change) in colleges/universities and 97 (no change) in K-12 schools.
The health department reported 3,989 more people tested positive for COVID-19 out of the 50,426 total tests processed since yesterday. That brings Virginia's total number of coronavirus cases to 358,755. Of those cases, 45,376 (+124 from previous day) are associated with outbreaks.
RELATED: COVID-19 in Virginia: LIVE updates for Saturday, Jan. 2
As of Saturday's update, 18,240 (+74 from previous day) people had been hospitalized and 5,117 (+36) people had died as a result of COVID-19-related illnesses, according to VDH data.
More women have been infected by the virus at 184,386 cases versus the 170,212 cases reported in men. No gender was reported for 4,157 cases in the Commonwealth.
The coronavirus first most impacted people aged 50 to 69, which currently accounts for nearly 25 percent of cases in Virginia.
However, people aged 30 to 49 now account for 32 percent of cases, data show.
Additionally, people in their 20s account for nearly 20 percent of cases in the state.
*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.
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- Avoid non-essential travel.
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