New COVID-19 cases and deaths rise statewide

The number of COVID-19 cases across the state rose by 6,964 over the past week, bringing the total number to 120,594, the Virginia Department of Health reported Aug. 31. The number of virus-related deaths rose by 109 last week, with a total of 2,580 since March.

Both statistics saw increases since the previous week, when there were 86 new fatalities and 6,672 new cases reported. According to the VDH, the statewide positivity rate is 7.4%, up a percentage point from last week’s rate of 6.4%.

Several universities have started reporting COVID-19 rates among students, faculty and staff members. According to James Madison University, as of Aug. 31, there were 103 student cases reported to the health center Aug. 28-30 and 256 self-reported cases since Aug. 17 — only four of which are among faculty and staff. VCU reports 108 active cases among students and eight active employee cases as of Aug. 28. According to the university, there have been 44 cases reported from athletics, which has necessitated the need for more isolation space.

Virginia Tech reported 178 total cases as of Aug. 30, up from 21 on Aug. 23; 48 students are currently in isolation space on campus, the university said. The University of Virginia launched a COVID-19 dashboard last week, reporting 115 total cases as of Aug. 31 among students, faculty, staff and contract employees, including 83 student cases. This number does not include students who tested positive before arriving on grounds.

Some communities in the state still have higher percentages than the state average. Earlier this month, Gov. Ralph Northam placed restrictions on Hampton Roads localities, limiting alcohol sales to 10 p.m. and not allowing gatherings of more than 50 people. Northam has scheduled a COVID-19 update Tuesday at 2 p.m. that will be streamed live on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Here are the health districts with higher than 10% positivity rates:

• Central Shenandoah (Augusta, Bath, Highland, Rockbridge and Rockingham counties, and the cities of Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro): 10.8% (up from 6.0% Aug. 24)
• Chesapeake: 12.2% (up from 11.2%)
• Crater (Dinwiddie, Emporia, Greensville, Hopewell, Petersburg, Prince George, Surry and Sussex): 11.8% (down from 13.1%)
• Mount Rogers (Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Washington and Wythe counties, and the cities of Bristol and Galax): 11.7% (up from 10.0%)
• Pittsylvania-Danville: 14.8% (up from 12.7%)
• Portsmouth: 10.6% (down from 11.5%)
• West Piedmont (Martinsville and Franklin, Henry and Patrick counties): 15.1% (down from 17.5%)
• Western Tidewater (Isle of Wight and Southampton counties, cities of Franklin and Suffolk): 11.8% (down from 12.4%)

These are the Virginia localities that have seen 400 or more total cases, as of Aug. 31:

• Fairfax County: 18,417
• Prince William County: 10,836
• Virginia Beach: 6,028
• Loudoun County: 5,979
• Chesterfield County: 5,046
• Henrico County: 4,608
• Norfolk: 4,394
• Richmond: 3,897
• Chesapeake: 3,801
• Arlington County: 3,555
• Alexandria: 3,378
• Newport News: 2,317
• Portsmouth: 2,213
• Manassas: 1,805
• Spotsylvania County: 1,801
• Stafford County: 1,704
• Suffolk: 1,635
• Hampton: 1,554
• Harrisonburg: 1,346
• Roanoke: 1,200
• Accomack County: 1,145
• Culpeper County: 1,117
• Rockingham County: 1,058
• Albemarle County: 1,034
• Lynchburg: 986
• Henry County: 844
• Hanover County: 794
• Pittsylvania County: 770
• Shenandoah County: 769
• Frederick County: 764
• Fauquier County: 762
• James City County: 743
• Greensville County: 709
• Charlottesville: 681
• Buckingham County: 644
• Petersburg: 631
• Danville: 606
• Roanoke County: 606
• Manassas Park: 565
• Prince George County: 554
• Bedford County: 546
• Isle of Wight County: 552
• Mecklenburg County: 516
• Montgomery County: 493
• Prince Edward County: 488
• Fredericksburg: 481
• York County: 461
• Winchester: 439

Globally, there are 25.2 million reported COVID-19 cases and 846,985 confirmed deaths as of Aug. 31. The United States, which has the most confirmed cases and deaths worldwide, has seen 6 million confirmed cases so far, with 183,203 deaths nationwide attributed to the coronavirus since February.

Below is the latest data from VDH: