COVID-19 deaths reported in 7 local cities from Tuesday; Recent studies express importance of continuing to wear a mask

The Virginia Department of Health released their daily updated numbers involving COVID-19 cases within the state.

According to their website, there are now 142,590 total cases, 135,626 of which are confirmed and 6,964 are probable. There are 3,089 total COVID-19 related deaths, with 2,882 being confirmed and 207 being probable.

The case numbers are up by 580, and deaths are up by 29 since Tuesday. There were COVID-19 deaths in 7 local cities: Chesapeake, Hampton, Isle of Wight, James City Co., Newport News, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach. There were 107 local cases which made up about 18% of the state's total increase.

A total of 1,922,606 COVID-19 PCR tests have now been given in Virginia. Virginia's percent positivity rate when it comes to testing for the virus is currently being reported at 5.5%, and has been seeing a steady decrease over the month of September. Many health districts in Hampton Roads are reporting at 5% or lower in test positivity rate including: the Peninsula Health District, Eastern Shore District, Norfolk, Hampton, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and York.

Last week, CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield called face masks the most “powerful public health tool we have.”

“I might even go so far as to say that this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine,” said Dr. Redfield.

It was a stark change from CDC messaging early on in the pandemic that face coverings would most likely only protect those around you.

“That was because there was a lot of data at that time that you can shed the virus at high rates from your nose and mouth even when you feel well,” said Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease doctor and professor of medicine at the University of California – San Francisco.

If you'd like to read more about these recent studies involving masks and coronavirus, click here.

Virginia Department of Health

The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association also updated their numbers. As of Wednesday, there are 618 people currently being hospitalized, confirmed with COVID-19. There are 298 people receiving inpatient hospital care whose test results are still pending. Combined, there are a total of 916 being hospitalized for coronavirus related illness. That's 24 more hospitalizations from Tuesday.

The total statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations that have been reported over time is now 10,718.

215 confirmed positive patients, and those whose test results are pending, are currently hospitalized in the ICU.

113 hospital patients, both confirmed for coronavirus, and those with test results pending, are currently on a ventilator. 640 ventilators are being used in hospitals out of the 3,100 in the state - that's 21% usage.

17,038 patients who have been hospitalized for coronavirus have been discharged.

Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association

Here's the breakdown of confirmed cases in local areas:

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