TROUBLING TREND IN HAMPTON ROADS

Officials say public’s behavior likely behind virus increase here

The rate for people testing positive for the coronavirus has been increasing in much of South Hamp ton Roads over the past two weeks. Health officials say the spike may be the result of a relaxed approach to public health precautions.

“Now as we’re beginning to open up, we’re seeing behavior that may put people more at risk of transmission in our area,” said Dr. Demetria Lindsay, health director for Norfolk and Virginia Beach .“We may not see the numbers going up at exactly the same time, but I think overall in our area we’re seeing it trending upward.”

The seven-day positivity rate for Norfolk was 13.9% on Wednesday, according to the Virginia Department of Health. It’s the highest the rate has been in more than two weeks. Two weeks ago, the rate was about 6.7%.

Portsmouth’ s positivity rate—the percentage of people who test positive for COVID-19 of those overall who have been tested — reached its highest in more than two weeks on Wednesday at 13.6%. The rate was around 7.4% on June 24.

Chesapeake and Virginia Beach also saw their highest positivity rates in more than two weeks Wednesday, approximately 9.7% and 5.9% respectively, according to VDH. Two weeks ago, the positivity rate was around 5.1% in Chesapeake and 3.1% in Virginia Beach.

“We are doing more testing, but I do feel that the increase that we are seeing is real,” Lindsay said.

She attributed the increase to changes in behavior as the state continues its phased reopening.

“What we’re learning from our case investigations is that a lot of this has to do with behavior. We’re encounteringahistoryofsocialgather

ings with family and friends — much of it around celebrations like birthdays and Father’s Day,” Lindsay said.

She said people may feel more comfortable being around extended family and close friends, but emphasized that when officials don’t applythesamephysicaldistancing standards to family members, they’re only referring to people living in the same household.

As part of the case investigation, Lindsay said they’re finding that people who test positive for COVID-19 have been in bars and bar areas around restaurants.

Gov. Ralph Northam announced last week that bar seating would remain closed as the state moved into Phase 3 of reopening. He said his decision was based on trends he noticed in other states and the concern that people would not follow physical distancing guidelines standing in bar areas.

Virginia Health Department spokesman Larry Hill also attributed the spike to people going out more, including to restaurants and parties.

On July 1 when the state transitioned to Phase 3, it lifted the caps on capacity for nonessential retail businesses and restaurants and allowed for social gatherings of up to 250 people. Hill emphasized that even though things are open, people still need to wear a face-covering — it’s still required in indoor public spaces.

Last week, a Daily Press analysis of Virginia Department of Health data showed the rolling seven-day average of new cases on the Peninsula wasjustover25aday,upfrom about 13 before Northam eased stay-at-home directives.

The positivity rate for the state as a whole was 6% on Wednesday, but Lindsay cautioned that it can be a bit misleading to compare rates. Shesaidthatdifferentregions have seen spikes at different points during the pandemic.

“We’re not always necessarily right at the same stage,” Lindsay said. Lindsay also noted there’s been a large increase in COVID-19 cases among young adults and teenagers.

Since late May, coronavirus cases among people younger than 20 have increased by 240%, the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health said last week. Cases for people 20 to 29 have increased by nearly 250%.

“This pandemic is not going to be over for a while. What we’re seeing is, I think, a direct result of our relaxing and needing to fall back on following recommendations in terms of keeping ourselves and everyone safe,” Lindsay said. She stressed the importance of continuing to stay 6 feet or more from others, wearing a mask in public and washing hands.

“All of those things are still critical even though we are opening up. It is affecting our numbers,” Lindsay said.