RICHMOND, Va. – Health officials are investigating 2,274 outbreaks of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, according to Virginia Department of Health (VDH) data released Thursday. That means 16 new outbreaks were recorded since Wednesday's reporting.
Data show 855 (+7 from yesterday's report) outbreaks at long-term care facilities with a total of 27,635 COVID-19 cases and 3,011 deaths. That is up 339 cases and 38 additional deaths from the previous day's report.
Five new outbreaks were reported in a congregate setting as well as one new outbreak recorded in a correctional facility.
And three new outbreak were recorded in an educational setting: 120 (+2) in child care centers, 59 (no change) in colleges/universities and 119 (+1) in K-12 schools.
The health department reported 5,121 more people tested positive for COVID-19 out of the 51,888 total tests processed since yesterday. That brings Virginia's total number of coronavirus cases to 493,674. Of those cases, 56,515 (+627 from previous day) are associated with outbreaks.
RELATED: COVID-19 in Virginia: LIVE updates for Wednesday, Jan. 27
As of Thursday's update, 21,113 (+127 from previous day) people had been hospitalized and 6,308 (+80) people had died as a result of COVID-19-related illnesses, according to VDH data.
More women have been infected by the virus at 253,503 cases versus the 233,632 cases reported in men. No gender was reported for 6,539 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 nearly 32 percent of cases, data show.
Additionally, people in their 20s account for more than 19 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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