Virginians could be just a few weeks away to a return to what was once normal.
On Thursday, Gov. Northam said the Commonwealth would end mitigation measures, social distancing requirements and capacity limits on June 15 if COVID-19 metrics continue to look favorable.
Restaurants, theaters, gyms and everywhere else could fully reopen without socially distancing before summer.
Northam reiterated COVID-19 restrictions that are changing on May 15. On April 22 Northam announced these changes which would go into effect May 15. Those changes were to social gathering limits increasing to 100 people, for indoor settings and 250 for outdoor and allowed for entertainment and sporting venues to increase capacity limits. Click here for more on the upcoming changes.
The Virginia Department of Health has also released their daily updated numbers involving COVID-19 cases within the state.
According to their website, there are now 664,394 total cases, 516,561 of which are confirmed and 147,833 are probable. There are 10,861 total COVID-19 related deaths, with 9,145 being confirmed and 1,716 being probable. The case numbers are up by 856, and deaths are up by 17 since Wednesday.
A total of 7,119,924 COVID-19 PCR tests have now been given in Virginia.
As of Thursday Virginia has given a total of 6,549,140 COVID-19 vaccines. That is 88,764 statewide doses given in a day. The table below gives more information about local vaccine distribution.
The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association also updated their numbers. As of Thursday, there are 702 people currently being hospitalized, confirmed with COVID-19. There are 145 people receiving inpatient hospital care whose test results are still pending. Combined, there are a total of 847 being hospitalized for coronavirus related illness. That's 49 less hospitalizations from Wednesday.
206 confirmed positive patients, and those whose test results are pending, are currently hospitalized in the ICU.
129 hospital patients, both confirmed for coronavirus, and those with test results pending, are currently on a ventilator. 849 ventilators are being used in hospitals out of the 2,972 in the state - that's 29% usage.
54,937 patients who have been hospitalized for coronavirus have been discharged.
Here's the breakdown of COVID-19 case and vaccine information for local areas:
| 5/6/2021 | TOTAL CASES | NEW CASES TODAY | TOTAL HOSPITALIZED | NEW IN HOSPITAL TODAY | TOTAL DEATHS | NEW DEATHS TODAY | TOTAL VACCINE DOSES GIVEN | VACCINES DOSES REPORTED SINCE YESTERDAY | 7-DAY AVG PERCENT POSITIVITY | ||||||||||
| VIRGINIA TOTALS | 664,394 | 856 | 28,771 | 83 | 10,861 | 17 | 6,549,140 | 88,764 | 4.40% | ||||||||||
| ACCOMACK | 2,818 | 3 | 207 | 2 | 41 | 0 | 22,981 | 209 | 7.30% | (Eastern Shore District) | |||||||||
| CHESAPEAKE | 20,779 | 31 | 984 | 3 | 292 | 1 | 157,408 | 2,590 | 6.70% | ||||||||||
| FRANKLIN | 1,131 | -1 | 56 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 5,320 | 55 | 5.30% | (Western Tidewater District) | |||||||||
| GLOUCESTER | 2,185 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 48 | 0 | 27,390 | 344 | |||||||||||
| HAMPTON | 10,346 | 27 | 362 | 1 | 175 | 0 | 83,264 | 1,012 | 8.10% | ||||||||||
| ISLE OF WIGHT | 3,130 | 3 | 150 | 4 | 67 | 0 | 28,048 | 277 | 5.30% | (Western Tidewater District) | |||||||||
| JAMES CITY | 4,575 | 6 | 147 | 1 | 72 | 0 | 73,149 | 535 | 6.00% | (Peninsula District) | |||||||||
| MATHEWS | 597 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 7,738 | 88 | |||||||||||
| NEWPORT NEWS | 13,848 | 12 | 429 | 4 | 224 | 0 | 107,111 | 1,751 | 6.00% | (Peninsula District) | |||||||||
| NORFOLK | 17,498 | 17 | 974 | -1 | 255 | 1 | 125,265 | 2,418 | 6.20% | ||||||||||
| NORTHAMPTON | 802 | 0 | 80 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 11,055 | 111 | 7.30% | (Eastern Shore District) | |||||||||
| POQUOSON | 873 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 10,470 | 117 | |||||||||||
| PORTSMOUTH | 8,988 | 13 | 667 | 1 | 190 | 1 | 49,776 | 756 | 11.60% | ||||||||||
| SOUTHAMPTON | 1,974 | 3 | 54 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 10,523 | 100 | 5.30% | (Western Tidewater District) | |||||||||
| SUFFOLK | 7,866 | 8 | 436 | 1 | 187 | 1 | 57,528 | 915 | 5.30% | (Western Tidewater District) | |||||||||
| VIRGINIA BEACH | 35,637 | 47 | 1,589 | 5 | 389 | 2 | 301,964 | 4,522 | 6.60% | ||||||||||
| WILLIAMSBURG | 763 | 4 | 27 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 10,348 | 101 | 6.00% | (Peninsula District) | |||||||||
| YORK | 3,712 | 5 | 68 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 51,950 | 696 | 6.00% | (Peninsula District) | |||||||||
| LOCAL TOTALS | 137,522 | 179 | 6,333 | 22 | 2156 | 6 | 1,141,288 | 16,597 | 7.23% | (Local Average) |