RICHMOND, Va. -- The state of Virginia reported more than 940 positive COVID-19 cases Thursday. That marked the largest single-day jump since June 7.
Virginia entered Phase 3 of reopening on July 1 relaxing capacity rules for restaurants, gyms, and social gatherings.
"So far, Virginia has avoided the same spike in COVID-19 cases that other states are experiencing, but we are starting to see a concerning increase, particularly in Hampton Roads," Virginia Governor Ralph Northam said. "We all have to stay vigilant—we have come too far to let our guard down now."
The governor said his team would continue monitoring the data and may re-institute restrictions designed to keep the virus from quickly spreading to large groups of people.
"We will continue watching the data over the coming days to make sure public health guidelines are being followed—and I won't hesitate to impose restrictions if needed," he said.
If Virginia is unable to stay in Phase 3, Northam said it was unlikely students would go back to in-class learning this fall.
"It's not only the children in school, it's the teachers, it's the staff that could contract this and the point I would make is if our teachers and our staff can't stay healthy, if they contract the virus, then all is moot," he said. "I want as much as anybody, with all the families with all the children, to get our kids back in school. But if, if our numbers don't stay where they are, if we can't remain in Phase 3, then we're not going to be able to move forward with that."
Nearly 69,000 Virginians have tested positive for COVID-19 since March. There have been 1,958 COVID-19 related deaths statewide during that same time period.
Here's the breakdown of confirmed cases in Hampton Roads areas:
- Chesapeake 1,162 cases, 156 hospitalized, 22 deaths (+45 cases from Thursday)
- Accomack 1,042 cases, 72 hospitalized, 14 deaths (+0 cases from Thursday)
- Northampton 273 cases, 41 hospitalized, 28 deaths (+1 cases from Thursday)
- Hampton 454 cases, 40 hospitalized, 4 deaths (+30 cases from Thursday)
- Norfolk 1,360 cases,123 hospitalized, 15 deaths (+71 cases from Thursday)
- James City County 332 cases, 58 hospitalized, 16 deaths (+9 cases from Thursday)
- Newport News 679 cases, 46 hospitalized, 10 deaths (+20 cases from Thursday)
- Poquoson 20 cases, 2 hospitalized, 0 deaths (+0 cases from Thursday)
- Williamsburg 78 cases, 12 hospitalized, 6 deaths (+0 cases from Thursday)
- York County 144 cases, 10 hospitalized, 3 deaths (+4 cases from Thursday)
- Portsmouth 627 cases, 83 hospitalized, 18 deaths (+22 cases from Thursday)
- Gloucester 65 cases, 11 hospitalized, 1 death (+1 cases from Thursday)
- Virginia Beach 1,663 cases, 133 hospitalized, 30 deaths (+116 cases from Thursday)
- Franklin City 69 cases, 5 hospitalized, 3 deaths (+3 cases from Thursday)
- Isle of Wight 215 cases, 16 hospitalized, 9 deaths (+6 cases from Thursday)
- Southampton 170 cases, 8 hospitalized, 10 deaths (+2 cases from Thursday)
- Suffolk 526 cases, 67 hospitalized, 42 deaths (+22 cases from Thursday)
Biggest jump in daily cases by region:
Hampton Roads:
- Virginia Beach: 1,663 (+116 since Thursday)
- Norfolk: 1,360 (+71)
- Chesapeake: 1,162 (+45)
- Hampton: 454 (+30)
- Portsmouth: 627 (+22)
- Suffolk: 526 (+22)
- Newport News: 679 (+20)
Northern Virginia
- Fairfax: 14,356 (+72)
- Prince William: 7,742 (+55)
- Westmoreland: 171 (+47)
- Loudoun: 4,349 (+30)
- Alexandria: 2,439 (+20)
- Spotsylvania: 1,077 (+17)
- Arlington: 2,582 (+15)
Central Virginia
- Henrico: 2,784 (+59)
- Chesterfield: 3,135 (+30)
- Richmond City: 2,361 (+28)
- Prince George: 277 (+23)