The COVID-19 epidemic is intensifying in Virginia. Twelve more people died from the virus yesterday, bringing the statewide total 121 yesterday, according to data published this morning by the Virginia Department of Health. Meanwhile, the number of new cases, 467, hit a new daily high, and so did the number of new hospitalizations at 87.
Here are the key metrics based on VDH and Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) data:
Total COVID-19 cases: 4,509, up 467 from the previous day
Total hospitalizations: 772, up 87 from the previous day
ICUs in use: 457, down eight
Ventilators in use: 287, up two
Total deaths: 121, up nine
Total tests: 35,459, up 2,433
% tests positive: 19.2%
And here are other indices crucial to understanding the spread of the epidemic, John Butcher’s calculation of the “doubling” rate for key metrics based on the past four days of data:
Confirmed cases: doubling every 6.9 days
Hospitalizations: doubling every 6.6 days
Deaths: doubling every 3.0 days
Ventilator capacity well in hand. On a side note, according to national news reports, many physicians are concluding that intubation may not be the most effective way to treat patients suffering from advanced symptoms of COVID-19. Indeed, some are saying that ventilation is the wrong prescription and can be harmful. While Virginia hospitals are still scrounging for personal protective equipment — eight reported to the VHHA that they are experiencing difficulty with their supplies — they have an ample inventory of ventilators: 2,797 versus 686 in use, a utilization rate of only 25%.
Apparently, the ventilator supply is well in hand.
— JAB
