Virginia sets record with more than 4,600 new cases

It’s not even Christmas, and the number of new coronavirus cases reported in Virginia continues to reach record highs.

As of Wednesday morning, 4,652 new cases were reported, according to data from the Virginia Department of Health. It brings Virginia’s tally to 319,133 total. Of those, 271,811 cases are confirmed and 47,322 are probable.

The seven-day average of daily news cases is 3,842, according to the VDH.

The highest number of cases in Hampton Roads was Virginia Beach, with 240 new cases, followed by Norfolk with 162 and Chesapeake with 112.

Hampton has the area’s highest seven-day positivity rate, with 14.7 % of its tests reported positive. Portsmouth is not far behind with 14.4%, and Virginia Beach has 13.7%.

Fifty-five deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, bringing Virginia’s total to 4,760, according to the VDH. Of the deaths reported in the past 24 hours, 14 were in the Eastern Region, which includes Hampton Roads.

Hospitalizations are also at a record, with 2,586 patients in the hospital with either positive or pending tests, according to data from the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.

Intensive Care Unit occupancy is at 55% and 33% of ventilators are in use, according to the association.

Earlier this month, Gov. Ralph Northam tightened restrictions in anticipation of a surge, limiting private gatherings to 10 people, putting in place a midnight to 5 a.m. curfew, expanding the mask mandate, requiring everyone over the age of 5 to wear one anytime they’re outside their home and can’t be at least 6 feet from others, and forcing restaurants to stop alcohol sales by 10 p.m. and closing by midnight.