The Virginia Department of Health reported 732 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, raising the state's total to nearly 11,000.
The increase is the largest reported jump since the crisis began, though there was also a large increase in the number of test results reported to the health department. 64,518 tests have been now been conducted,
an increase of 3,740 from Wednesday's data.
23 more deaths were reported Thursday, raising the state's total to 372. 1,753 Virginians have bene hospitalized.
Only five localities in Virginia have no reported positive COVID-19 cases. They're all in rural, western Virginia: Bath, Grayson, Bland and Dickinson counties and the City of Martinsville.
Ban on elective surgeries extended
Governor Ralph Northam Thursday extended a ban on elective surgeries to May 1st. Northam said the health department needs more time to determine how to safely ease the restriction and to understand the demand it will place on supplies of personal protective equipment.
Ealier Thursday, the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association asked Northam to allow non-emergency procedures to resume. Northam’s original order banning such procedures is set to expire Friday.
It was meant to preserve personal protective equipment for physicians on the front lines of the pandemic. In a statement, the VHHA said Northam’s order has accomplished that goal, so there is no need to extend it.
The association said an extension would prevent those in need of medical services, including those with chronic conditions, from receiving care. It also argues allowing non-emergency procedures to resume would put Virginia on similar ground with at least 17 states, including hard-hit ones like New York.
Northam also extended the closure of public-facing Department of Motor Vehicles offices to May 11th. State police have been instructed to suspend enforcement of vehicle inspections and other administrative rules through July 31st.
