COVID-19 Updates for County, Health District, State, Nation and Global

Since our last update at the end of January, in the first three weeks of February 2021, Warren County has reported 236 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths, to 41 from 37, attributed to the Coronavirus pandemic. Twelve more people, to 88 from 76 were hospitalized here due to the viral infection.

And unhappily, as pointed out by reader Kelli Hart in an Open Letter to our county and town elected officials reprinted in our OPINION section, Warren County, including the Town of Front Royal, continues to report a higher death rate per reported cases (1.82%) than both the Commonwealth of Virginia (1.32%) and the nation (1.78%), as well as carrying the third highest deaths per cases ratio in the Northern Shenandoah Valley region, including our five fellow Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) communities.

In the past four months since late October through the predicted Phase 3 and holiday COVID surge, Warren County has recorded 29 of its 41 fatalities. But as Warren County Emergency Services Coordinator Rick Farrall noted in his introduction to the February 21 numbers tabulated the following morning: “Good News:  LFHD reports that both the COVID-19 case rate and associated death rate is finally declining in the District.”

File photo of Rick Farrall, the ever-busy Warren County Emergency Services Deputy Director who is at the point of the County’s COVID-related response and information distribution. Royal Examiner Photos by Roger Bianchini

We can only hope that trend continues as vaccine distribution becomes more available across the health district, state and nation.

A check of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website on February 22, at 6:30 p.m. indicated 111,434,130 reported cases and 2,467,481 deaths globally. The U.S. cases (28,409,397) and deaths climbing over half million at 504,012, continue to account for about 25% to 20% of the global cases and deaths, with the U.S.’s 4% of the world population. Note: local vaccination information will be reported in a companion report.

Below, see the full comparative COVID-19 statistics in several week increments as reported by County Emergency Services since the turn of the year:

U.S. and global stats as of Feb. 22

COMMUNITY INFORMATION:

3. COVID-19 Information (Current Data, as of 2/22 at 8:56 AM):
   1. Good News:  LFHD reports that both the COVID-19 case rate and associated death rate is finally declining in the District.
   2. Lord Fairfax Health District:  As of today (per the VDH website), the number of total COVID-19 cases per locality are: Clarke 749, Frederick 6,673, Page 1,809, Shenandoah 3,669, Warren 2,249 (88 are/were hospitalized, 41 deaths attributed to the County; deaths 1.82% total cases), Winchester 2,447; the current status of these patients is unknown (admitted to hospital, discharged to home isolation/quarantine, departed the District/County).
   3. Commonwealth:  5,762,389 total people tested (PCR only); 565,270 total cases [8.3% positive rate (PCR only)]; 23,530 total hospitalized; 7,486 total deaths (1.32%total cases).
   4. United States:  As of February 21, 2021, there are 27,882,557 total cases and 496,112 total deaths (1.78%total cases) attributed to COVID-19.

Above, per capita COVID-19 stats for Warren County; below, for Loudoun County

4. Current CDC Guidance Regarding When to Quarantine/Options to Reduce Quarantine
   1. Updated CDC guidance as of February 11, 2020.
   2. Recommend everyone familiarize themselves with the updated guidance.  See attached and website link below for details.
   3. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html

3. COVID-19 Information (Feb. 1, 2021):
   1. Lord Fairfax Health District:  As of today (per the VDH website), the number of total COVID-19 cases per locality are: Clarke 677, Frederick 6,023, Page 1,660, Shenandoah 3,417, Warren 2,013 (76 are/were hospitalized, 37 deaths attributed to the County; deaths 1.84% total cases), Winchester 2,301; the current status of these patients is unknown (admitted to hospital, discharged to home isolation/quarantine, departed the District/County).
   2. Commonwealth:  5,261,801 total people tested (PCR only); 507,640 total cases [11.7% positive rate (PCR only)]; 21,444 total hospitalized; 6,474 total deaths (1.28%total cases).
   3. United States:  As of January 31, 2021 at 12:26 PM, there are 25,921,703 total cases and 438,035 total deaths (1.69%total cases) attributed to COVID-19.

Above, per capita COVID stats for Fairfax County; below, for Rockingham County

3. COVID-19 Information (January 15, 2021):
   1. Lord Fairfax Health District:  As of today (per the VDH website), there are 12,733 confirmed COVID-19 cases (Clarke 491, Frederick 4,661, Page 1,289, Shenandoah 2,756, Warren 1,633 (71 are/were hospitalized, 36 deaths attributed to the County; deaths 2.20% total cases), Winchester 1,903); the current status of these patients is unknown (admitted to hospital, discharged to home isolation/quarantine, departed the District/County).
   2. Commonwealth:  4,730,680 total people tested (PCR only); 422,634 total cases [15.2% positive rate (PCR only)]; 19,741 total hospitalized; 5,656 total deaths (1.34%total cases).
   3. United States:  As of January 14, 2021 at 12:16 PM, there are 22,965,957 total cases and 383,351 total deaths (1.67%total cases) attributed to COVID-19.

2. COVID-19 Information (December 30, 2020):
   1. Lord Fairfax Health District:  As of today (per the VDH website), there are 9,877 confirmed COVID-19 cases (Clarke 385, Frederick 3,703, Page 1,015, Shenandoah 2,186, Warren 1,321 (69 are/were hospitalized, 33 deaths attributed to the County; deaths 2.50% total cases), Winchester 1,637); the current status of these patients is unknown (admitted to hospital, discharged to home isolation/quarantine, departed the District/County).
   2. Commonwealth:  4,220,943 total people tested (PCR only); 344,345 total cases [12.7% positive rate (PCR only)]; 17,910 total hospitalized; 4,984 total deaths (1.45%total cases).
   3. United States:  As of December 29, 2020 at 2:25 PM, there are 19,232,843 total cases and 334,029 total deaths (1.74%total cases) attributed to COVID-19.

Sadly, it’s been a long time since the nation was shocked by less than a thousand COVID deaths in one day. As previously noted, the 973 daily number cited here would equate to 30,163 deaths over a month. January 2021’s 94,000 total equated to 3,000 daily deaths nationwide as the post-holiday, Phase 3 surge hopefully peaked.