WAVY.com

Virginia Sept. 20 COVID-19 update: Va. reporting around 3,600 new cases, 32 deaths per day; 549 in ICU

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia’s still reporting its highest COVID metrics since February/March as we approach the first day of fall on Wednesday.

The Virginia Department of Health is reporting 3,580 new cases and 32 deaths per day on average, and 2,158 people are currently hospitalized for COVID-19. 549 people are currently in the ICU, which is just below Virginia’s peak over the winter. That’s been putting a major strain on health systems and has forced some hospitals to transfer patients due to overcrowding.


COVID-19 deaths are at their highest point since March, before widespread vaccinations. The vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths are in unvaccinated people, data shows.

The U.S. is reporting about 2,000 new COVID-19 deaths per day on average, up 30% compared to two weeks ago, per the New York Times’ coronavirus tracker.

Some good news is that the upward trend in cases has stalled out some, and the percent of positive tests coming back has dropped back below 10% statewide.


State metrics

Local cases (Combined numbers for Saturday, Sunday and Monday)

Local test positivity15.1% (back down after reaching about 17%)