WAVY.com

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The Virginia Department of Health has reported 4,177 more new COVID-19 cases since Friday. This is the second-highest daily increase reported since the pandemic began and marks 8 days straight of case counts reaching into the 3,300s and beyond.

As of Saturday morning, December 12, Virginia has an overall number of 278,615 coronavirus cases since the start of the outbreak. Of the overall cases reported, 241,397 have been confirmed by testing. 37,218 are probable cases, in which a patient who shows symptoms is diagnosed without testing.


The highest record of daily COVID-19 case increase statewide, so far, was reported three days earlier on Dec. 9 with a record of 4,398 cases reported in one day.

The record metrics led to Gov. Northam on Thursday announcing new coronavirus restrictions through January, including limiting gatherings to 10 people and a “modified stay-at-home order” from midnight to 5 a.m. each day. Northam said Virginia’s numbers are bad, but the commonwealth is still doing better compared to most other states.

Statewide numbers for Virginia:

Local cases

Overall, Hampton Roads and the Tidewater region reported a total of 651 cases Saturday, which is 15% of the daily increase statewide.

Key local metrics

According to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, 2,117 residents in Virginia are currently hospitalized due to the virus. That number is a combination of confirmed positive COVID-19 patients and hospitalized patients whose COVID-19 test results are still pending.