Arlington Sees Highest One-Day Coronavirus Case Total Since May

Thirty-four new cases of COVID-19 in Arlington were reported overnight, a one-day case total that’s the highest since late May.

The new cases bring Arlington’s trailing seven-day case total to 110, the first time that figure has been in the triple digits since mid-June. No new hospitalizations nor deaths were reported overnight, however.

Arlington has now recorded a cumulative total of 2,660 coronavirus cases, or about 1.1 cases for every 100 residents. That compares to 1.6 and 1.3 cases for every 100 residents in neighboring Alexandria and Fairfax County, respectively, according to an analysis of Virginia Dept. of Health Data.

Meanwhile, a clear picture is emerging of who has been getting sick in Arlington in recent weeks: younger people.

In late May, the number of cases among those ages 20-29 and 50-59 was nearly the same in Arlington. Since then, 2.5 times as many people 20-29 have tested positive as those 50-59.

That follows a nationwide trend of new coronavirus cases in cities skewing younger. While younger people are generally less susceptible to the most severe COVID-19 complications, they can easily spread the disease to those who are older and more at risk.

In Arlington, the prevalence of the disease remains especially high among the Latino population: 51.6% of cases in which patient ethnicity is known are among Latinos, who comprise 15.6% of the county’s population.

The pandemic recently struck close to home for ARLnow. A positive case was reported in our coworking space in Ballston, though ARLnow’s employees have all been working remotely since March and will continue to do so through 2021.

Dr. Reuben Varghese, Arlington’s Public Health Director, said in an interview Monday afternoon that while new cases appear to have ebbed regionally, the disease is still spreading locally. Residents, he said, should continue to wear masks when in public and remain “safer at home” whenever possible.

“The virus is here,” Varghese said. “We’re going to have to do things in a safer manner.”