Cases spike after Deerfield tests

Published 1:33 pm Thursday, April 23, 2020

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The Western Tidewater Health District now reports 313 cases of COVID-19 after a spike caused by increased testing at Deerfield Correctional Center in Southampton County.

The Thursday report shows 71 cases in Southampton County, an increase from 19 just a day earlier.

Contributing to most of that spike is the increased numbers at Deerfield. The Virginia Department of Corrections reports 51 cases among Deerfield inmates, including its work centers, and three cases among staff.

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One offender from Deerfield is in the hospital, and there have been no deaths.

Earlier this week, the Department of Corrections announced it would test all of its inmates at Deerfield. Prior to the extended tests at the facility, there were four positive cases among inmates and staff.

Elsewhere in the Western Tidewater Health District, Suffolk has 136 cases, Isle of Wight County has 91 cases, and Franklin has 15 cases, according to the VDH. There have been 29 Suffolk patients hospitalized, with eight in Isle of Wight and three in Southampton. Three deaths have been reported from the disease in Suffolk, with two in Isle of Wight and one in Southampton.

Statewide, there are 10,998 cases. That figure now includes cases both confirmed by a test and “probable” — symptomatic with a known exposure.

The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association reports there are 886 COVID-19 positive patients in the hospital. There are 492 hospitalized with results pending.

Of the two groups combined, 400 are in ICUs and 249 are on ventilators. Statewide, less than a quarter of available ventilators are being used.