COVID-19 Cases in Fairfax County Reach All-time High

The number of new daily COVID-19 cases has reached an all-time high as of this weekend, far surpassing the previous peak immediately after Thanksgiving weekend and previous records over the summer.

The county recorded the highest number of new cases in a single day today (Monday) — 617 — since the pandemic began earlier this year. Both numbers exceed case counts that hovered around 500 on Thanksgiving weekend and when cases first peaked in June.

Statewide, cases also continue to soar. On Sunday, the state shattered previous records by recording 3,880 new cases. Over the summer, cases peaked to 2,015.

The latest numbers suggest that the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is surging with more strength than ever before, even as the reality of a new vaccine materializes.

Hospitalizations in the state and in the county also continue to climb. Although only 20 hospitalizations were reported today (Monday), the number of new hospitalizations peaked at 53 on Dec. 2.

In Fairfax County, however, the number of hospitalizations remains low. The state reported 20 new hospitalizations today. In early May, hospitalizations peaked at 53.

Another measure to determine community transmission — the weekly test positive rate — also continues to increase. The state’s test positivity rate is 10.8 percent while the county’s is at 11.5 percent. VDH updates data on the COVID-19 pandemic once a day at 5 p.m.

The county and the state have been preparing for the dispersal of a vaccine, which could have federal approval as early as this month. Gov. Ralph Northam previously stated that the first shipment to the state would include roughly 70,000. doses.

Photo via Virginia Department of Health