COVID-19 in Virginia: LIVE updates for Thursday, August 6

RICHMOND, Va. -- In an effort to provide accurate, easy-to-read information on the on-going COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on our community, WTVR.com will update this post with the day's local coronavirus headlines and statistics.

COVID-19 IN VIRGINIA (Scroll to bottom for U.S. stats)

Positive COVID-19 Cases: 95,867 (+818 from Wednesday)
People Hospitalized: 8,183 (+57 from Wednesday)
COVID-19-Linked Deaths: 2,299 (+25 from Wednesday)
Total Tests: 1,299,257 (+16,121 from Wednesday)
All Health Districts Current 7-Day Positivity Rate Total: 7.3%

Click here for complete city/county-by-county breakdown of COVID-19 cases in Virginia

NOTE: This data is provided from the Virginia Department of Healthdaily at 10 a.m. Officials said their cutoff for data is 5 p.m. the previous day. So your local health department may have issued an alert about a case before it is added to the statewide tally released the following day. Get the latest charts and updated numbers from VDH here. *Data fromJohns Hopkins University COVID-19 Tracker.

COVID-19 LOCAL HEADLINES

Virginia first state to try pandemic app from Apple, Google
Virginia has rolled out a smartphone app to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus. It's the first U.S. state to use new pandemic technology created by Apple and Google. Read more.

How you can get the help you need during the RVA Weekend of Action
The devastating impact of COVID-19 continues to leave families reeling. Some are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. This weekend, neighbors are helping neighbors. Read more.

Chesterfield seeks public input on how to spend $50m in CARES Act funding
Chesterfield County is seeking the public's input on how to best spend nearly $50 million in federal CARES Act funding. Read more.

Sean recognizes Chesterfield daycare staff for hard work during pandemic
In the latest edition of CBS 6 gives, sports anchor Sean Robertson made a visit to The Goddard School in Chesterfield to thank the staff for their hard work during the coronavirus pandemic. Read more.

County-by-county look at COVID-19 cases in Virginia
The health department reported 1,324 more people tested positive for COVID-19 out of the 15,642 total tests processed since yesterday. That brings Virginia's total number of coronavirus cases to 93,106. Read more.

COVID-19 in Virginia: 3 new outbreaks reported Monday, August 3
Health officials are investigating 652 outbreaks of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, according to Virginia Department of Health (VDH) data released Monday. That means three new outbreaks were recorded since Sunday's reporting. Read more.

147 more COVID-19 patients discharged in Virginia; hospitalizations up
Nearly 150 additional COVID-19 patients have been discharged from Virginia hospitals in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. Read more.

100 more COVID-19 patients discharged in Virginia; hospitalizations tick down
More than 100 additional COVID-19 patients have been discharged from Virginia hospitals in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. Read more.

New COVID-19 outbreak reported Sunday
Data show 318 (no change from yesterday's report) outbreaks at long-term care facilities with a total of 8,128 COVID-19 cases and 1,240 deaths. That is up 15 cases and 1 additional death from the previous day's report. Read more.

Richmond Kickers reschedule home opener due to COVID-19
The Richmond Kickers Home Opener against Fort Lauderdale originally scheduled for Saturday, August 1 has been postponed. Read more.

Fauci pressed on protests amid coronavirus pandemic
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, questioned Dr. Anthony Fauci on Friday on why protests were permitted in the wake of the death of George Floyd amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read more.

CDC: Hundreds of kids infected with coronavirus at camp
More than 40 percent of attendees at an overnight summer camp became infected with Covid-19 within days before officials shut it down, according to the CDC. Read more.

Experts: Colleges need to ramp up coronavirus testing in order to reopen
Colleges are trying to figure out how students can safely get back to school, as more schools are choosing to go online only for the fall. Read more.

Virginia Beach restaurants prepare for new restrictions
hether it’s a shot of vodka or a pint of your favorite beer, you’re going to need to get the order in by 9:59 p.m if you're in the Virginia Beach or Hampton Roads area. Read more.

Northam issues executive order with tighter COVID-19 restrictions for Hampton Roads
Governor Ralph Northam issued an executive order Tuesday tightening COVID-19 restrictions in the Hampton Roads. The executive order comes as the percent positivity in the region continues to rise. Read more.

White House COVID-19 adviser visits Richmond, makes recommendations to mitigate virus spread
Dr. Deborah Birx, one of the White House's top coronavirus advisers, made a stop in Richmond Tuesday to meet with Governor Ralph Northam and participate in a roundtable with community and state health officials. Read more.

VHSL votes to move fall sports to the spring
High school football won't be played in Virginia this fall, but it could be played this spring, after the Virginia High School League (VHSL) voted Monday to move fall sports to the spring. Read more:

'We will be watching,' Northam warns after Virginia COVID-19 cases jump 1,200 Saturday
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued a warning after the state reported 1,245 positive COVID-19 cases Saturday. That marked the largest single-day jump since 1,284 cases were reported June 7. Read more.

Worldwide COVID-19 cases top 16 million
The U.S. leads the count with 4.1 million, followed by 2.3 million in Brazil and 1.3 million in India, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Read more.

80-plus more COVID-19 patients discharged
More than 80 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from Virginia hospitals in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA). Read more.

Dr. Birx: Must slow virus surge in south so it doesn’t head to northern states
White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx says recent surges in cases in the southern U.S. could make their way north. Read more.

DC orders two-week quarantine for travelers from hotspots
Washington, D.C., is mandating that anyone arriving after non-essential travel to a coronavirus hot spot must self-quarantine for 14 days. Read more.

PPE, plexiglass shortage factored into Henrico Schools’ vote
During a reopening presentation, Henrico County Public Schools Superintendent Amy Cashwell’s leadership team said a large order of PPE like masks had not yet arrived. The school system planned to give two masks to each staff member and one mask to each student. Read more.

Henrico votes for a virtual start to the school year
The Henrico County School Board voted unanimously on Thursday for a virtual return to school for at least nine weeks. Read more.

CDC emphasizes reopening schools in new guidance
After issuing previous guidance that encouraged schools to close in areas with high transmission of the coronavirus, the CDC is now emphasizing that schools reopen this fall. Read more.

Virginia disinfectant company uses fog to kill COVID-19
A Virginia disinfectant company is using a new weapon to fight COVID-19.Read more.

1.4 million Americans filed unemployment claims last week, a slight uptick from previous weeks
Thursday's report marked the 18th straight week of more than 1 million unemployment claims. In that time span, the Department of Labor has recorded more than 50 million claims for unemployment insurance. Read more.

Richmond health director favors virtual and in-person learning for students
Chesterfield and Richmond's school boards have already decided to go all virtual to start the next school year, and Henrico's superintendent has recommended an all virtual start, but the head of the Richmond and Henrico Health Department said Wednesday he does "think a combination option of in person and virtual makes sense." Read more.

Richmond Public Schools Superintendent promises no layoffs as classes move online
No Richmond Public School employees will be furloughed or laid-off when classes resume online, according to Superintendent Jason Kamras. Read more.

US agrees to purchase 100M doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine candidate for $1.95B
The U.S. will pay drug company Pfizer $1.95 billion to produce and deliver 100 million doses of the company's COVID-19 vaccine candidate should the drug prove effective in human trials. Read more.

Trump: Coronavirus to get worse before getting better
President Donald Trump addressed reporters from the White House briefing room on Tuesday on the coronavirus pandemic, saying that the virus will get worse before it gets better. Read more.

Direct payments, unemployment supplements on the table for stimulus package
With millions of Americans set to lose a weekly $600 unemployment supplement this week, leaders in Washington are discussing another stimulus package that could extend the supplement for the unemployed. The $600 a week program from the federal government was added to state unemployment benefits. Read more.

Virginia and N.C. now on NY quarantine list as COVID-19 spikes
Residents from 31 states must now quarantine for 14 days when arriving in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as dozens of states face rising positive COVID-19 rates. Read more.

Chesterfield Schools go online-only learning for Fall 2020
Chesterfield County Public School students will attend school virtually this fall. School leaders voted 4-1 on the reopening plan in a special school board meeting Monday evening. Read more.

Virginia ABC stepping up face mask enforcement: 'No mask, no entry'
If you want to shop inside an ABC store, you need to wear a mask, Virginia ABC announced Friday. Read more.

Doctors warn antibody tests shouldn't be used to determine when to return to work
National lab companies are offering antibody tests as part of their return to work offerings, but doctors are warning these tests shouldn't be used yet to determine whether it's safe for you to be back in an office. Read more.

CDC Director: US could get COVID-19 under control in 1 to 2 months if everyone wears masks
The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the United States could get the coronavirus pandemic under control in one to two months if all Americans wear face coverings in public spaces.Read more.

These retailers will start requiring face masks in their stores nationwide
Several of America's largest retailers have announced that they will begin requiring all customers to wear masks or face coverings when entering their stores. Read more.

Affordable housing residents fear eviction due to COVID-19
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney was the moderator for panel series called "Color of COVID," which discussed the impact COVID-19 has had on people of color in affordable housing. Read more.

Northam: Virginia will ramp up enforcement of COVID-19 regulations
In an effort to address a recent rise of COVID-19 cases in Virginia, Governor Ralph Northam announced the state will increase enforcement of COVID-19 regulations, particularly at Hampton Roads businesses. Read more.

Virginia COVID-19 survivor recalls 'paralyzing' pain, 'feeling of suffocating'
"Incredible physical pain. Just huge amounts of unbelievable blinding, paralyzing back pain. It just hurt a lot," Thomas Bryan said. "And that combined with a really high fever... The feeling of suffocating -- someone standing on your chest not being able to breathe. I think people don’t understand that they are risking being as sick as that." Read more.

COVID case uptick in Virginia prompts warning from the governor: 'I won't hesitate to impose restrictions'
The state of Virginia reported more than 940 positive COVID-19 cases Thursday. That marked the largest single-day jump since June 7. Read more.

Coronavirus impact to Virginia budget not as bad as feared
The coronavirus pandemic’s impact on Virginia’s state budget hasn’t been as bad as previously feared. Read more.

Red Cross urging blood donations, testing for antibodies
The Red Cross is urging Central Virginians to donate blood during the COVID-19 crisis and will test blood, platelet, and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies for a limited time. Read more.

Northam announces phased approach for school reopening
Governor Ralph Northam unveiled a phased reopening approach for preK-12 schools in Virginia.
“We know parents want to know what to expect this summer and in the fall, to be clear, all Virginia schools will open for students next year, but the school experience will look very different,” said Northam at a Tuesday press conference. Read more here.

How to find work during COVID-19 pandemic: 'People are still hiring'
some employers are still hiring during the global health pandemic. Here are some tips for finding works from experts. More here.

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COMPLETE COVERAGE: COVID-19 HEADLINES (App users, click here for a complete list.)

LATEST COVID-19 U.S. AND WORLDWIDE STATS