Virginia Beach reports over 200 new COVID-19 cases second day in a row with a 14.3% positivity rate as state sees a total of 4,042 new cases

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

According to their website, there are now 310,890 total cases, 265,785 of which are confirmed and 45,105 are probable. There are 4,654 total COVID-19 related deaths, with 4,192 being confirmed and 462 being probable. The case numbers are up by 4,042, and deaths are up by 4 since Sunday.

A total of 3,975,016 COVID-19 PCR tests have now been given in Virginia.

The test percent positivity rates in Hampton Roads are as follows. All health districts except for the Eastern Shore Health District are reporting rates above the state average, which is 11.4 percent.

• Chesapeake: 14.7%
• Eastern Shore: 10.4%
• Hampton: 13.7%
• Norfolk: 12.3%
• Peninsula: 11.7%
• Portsmouth: 14.2%
• Virginia Beach: 14.3%
• Western Tidewater: 12.8%

The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association also updated their numbers. As of Monday, there are 2,113 people currently being hospitalized, confirmed with COVID-19. There are 329 people receiving inpatient hospital care whose test results are still pending. Combined, there are a total of 2,442 being hospitalized for coronavirus related illness. That's 70 additional hospitalizations from Sunday.

The total statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations that have been reported over time is now 16,948.

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

282 hospital patients, both confirmed for coronavirus, and those with test results pending, are currently on a ventilator. 987 ventilators are being used in hospitals out of the 3,015 in the state - that's 33% usage.

27,887 patients who have been hospitalized for coronavirus have been discharged.

Health officials remain concerned about the upcoming Christmas holiday. "You want to stay safe and the last thing you want to give is the gift of COVID to one of your family members," said Dr. Ryan Light of TPMG at Greenbrier Family Medicine.

They recommend limiting who you celebrate with to people in your immediate household or celebrating virtually. "I would say you really want to limit it to your household unit if at all possible. Maybe do more zooms. Do more Skypes," said Dr. Edward Oldfield from Eastern Virginia Medical School. "That way you're not putting your whole family at risk just as we're on the verge to have the vaccine."

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