Arlington’s coronavirus curve continues to trend upward.
While the county is by no means in Florida territory, the rate of new cases is quickening. The Virginia Dept. of Health reported 14 new cases in Arlington overnight, bringing the trailing seven-day rate of new cases to 124, the highest point since June 13.
Arlington’s one-week case growth rate reached a low of 42 on June 29. Virginia entered Phase 3 of its reopening on July 1.
Arlington’s test positivity rate, meanwhile, is now 6% — the highest it has been since June 14, when the rate of new cases was dropping.
The regional picture is similarly one of an increase in the rate of new cases.
“D.C., Maryland, and Virginia all reported their highest COVID-19 case counts since early June on Wednesday,” DCist reported yesterday. “D.C. tallied 80 new cases, its highest caseload since June 9. Virginia recorded 1,084 new cases, its largest since June 7. Maryland’s 756 new cases marked its highest count since June 5.”
D.C., Maryland, and Virginia have climbed to the highest numbers since early June https://t.co/E8h67VwJ38 pic.twitter.com/7CnF32McLx
— DCist (@DCist) July 16, 2020
At a news conference on Wednesday, his first since June 25, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam cautioned that reopening guidelines could change if cases continues to rise. (See statewide case count, below.)
At the press conference, officials introduced new workplace safety rules and called for stricter enforcement of social distancing guidelines and mask requirements, particularly at restaurants and bars.