The vast majority of “outbreaks” of COVID-19 in Virginia are at long-term care facilities, according to new data from the Virginia Dept. of Health. However, these outbreaks do not account for anywhere near the majority of coronavirus cases, including here in Alexandria.
This year, Virginia has logged more than 47,100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and an additional 2,300 probable cases. Many of those have recovered.
Of those total cases, more than 8,700 cases (about 17.7 percent) are associated with “outbreaks,” which are at least two confirmed cases in one facility or originating in one specific location. Most of the cases from outbreaks are in long-term care facilities.
In Virginia and nationwide, long-term care facilities have struggled to contain coronavirus among a particularly vulnerable population of residents of those places. Older adults and people with chronic medical issues or weakened immune systems are at greater risk for complications from COVID-19.
Virginia Dept. of Health
While most of the outbreaks here in Alexandria are also in long-term care facilities, a much smaller percentage of the total cases come from such places.
In the City of Alexandria, there have been 2,070 COVID-19 cases as of June 5. There have been 12 outbreaks, and 10 of those were in long-term care facilities. There were 145 infected people in those outbreaks, or only about 7 percent of the total COVID-19 cases. Facilities in Alexandria worked quickly to limit visitors and to limit interaction between residents to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Virginia Dept. of Health
The data suggests that Alexandria long-term care facilities are doing better than facilities in other parts of the state in containing COVID-19 outbreaks.
In addition, the data suggests that the majority of cases in Alexandria are not at long-term care facilities and are not caused by outbreaks.
More information and data updated daily is available at www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus.
If you have a loved one in a nursing home or another long-term care facility, visit the Virginia Dept. of Health’s FAQs here.
