There are over 3,127,500 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, around the world and over 5,795,000 have been tested in the United States. The global total number of deaths stands at 217,569. Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University has been keeping up-to-date information through an interactive map.
Virginia now has 14,339 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 2,165 people hospitalized, 492 deaths and 82,753 people tested. Fairfax has the highest total number of cases, with 3,278 to date, with 555 hospitalized and 114 deaths. Arlington has reported 865 cases with 157 hospitalized and 32 deaths. Alexandria has 683 cases with 82 hospitalized and 20 deaths. Loudoun County has 688 cases with 84 hospitalized and 12 deaths, and Prince William County has 1,667 cases (including Manassas and Manassas City), with 183 hospitalized and 23 deaths. You can keep up with the commonwealth’s daily updates here. (Virginia Department of Health)
Local
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, reached 38,490 as of Wednesday morning in the DMV. Maryland passed 20,128 cases, Virginia reported 14,339, and Washington, DC tallied 3,998. The death toll has reached a total of 1,712, with Maryland reported 1,023, Virginia 492, and 191 in DC. The daily increases of deaths have continued to climb across the region, with an average of 88 new fatalities a day, versus 72 in the prior week. Although hospitalizations from the virus have stayed flat day-to-day in Maryland and Virginia, and DC hospitalizations has slowed. (The Washington Post)
Local
In the DMV and across the country, quarantine fatigue is becoming more common as smartphone data has unveiled Americans are staying home less. As some states look to ease restrictions, the average of personal trips per person increased from 2.4% to 2.5% (a 4% increase), as well as an increase in travel over state lines and more. There was a nationwide shift in data starting April 13, where cell phones tracked 31% of people moved more than 1 mile from home, versus 33% the week before. (The Washington Post)
Local
Arlington residents have created and signed an online petition against Clark Construction, the group responsible for Amazon HQ2’s construction of two twin 22-story buildings in Pentagon City. According to residents, construction noise from pile driving and other construction operations while they are at home a majority of the day due to the stay-at-home order, should be halted until June 10. The company has yet to respond to resident requests. (The Washington Post)
Regional
The U.S. House of Representatives was scheduled to reconvene in Washington next week, but has since abandoned the plan due to an increasing number of cases in the Washington, DC region and its surrounding suburbs. The region has yet to see the virus recede in ways it must before officials will allow a lift on restrictions. (The Washington Post)
Statewide
Two chicken plants in Virginia have been established as large outbreak locations, with one owned by Perdue Farms and the other owned by Tysons. The former has an estimated 80 cases associated with the plant, and the latter around 100. Health officials are concerned that if the plants stay open, the continued rise of cases will overwhelm local hospitals on the Eastern Shore of the commonwealth. “Something needs to be done to reduce the spread of the infection,” said Michael Dacey, president and chief operating officer of Riverside Health System, which operates the only hospital in Accomack County, where the two chicken plants are located. On Tuesday, President Trump signed an executive order requiring all meat packing plants to stay open, regardless of the potential outbreaks. (The Washington Post)
National
The United States surpassed 1 million cases on Tuesday, representing an estimated one-third of cases worldwide. (The Washington Post)
The spread of COVID-19 continues to impact the Northern Virginia region on a daily basis. If you’re looking for ways to stay entertained at home, check out our Things to Do page, and stay up to date by subscribing to our weekly newsletters.