Arlington has reached a nearly two-month peak in the rolling seven-day average of new daily coronavirus cases.
Forty new COVID-19 cases were reported in the county overnight, bringing the pandemic total to 4,318 and the seven-day average to 24.3 cases per day.
That’s the highest point since Aug. 20, when it reached 25.1 cases per day. Beyond a brief two-day peak in August, the last time the daily average was higher was June 2.
The rise in cases comes as the Europe is experiencing a second coronavirus wave that has sent its per-capita rate of new cases soaring above that of the United States. The U.S., meanwhile, is seeing its own growth in new cases, particularly in the Midwest.
The resurgence raises questions about a seasonal effect, with rainy and colder weather — major cities in virus hotspots like the UK, France and Germany have predicted high temperatures in the 50s and 60s — potentially leading to people staying indoors more often, where viruses like flu and COVID-19 are more transmissible.
(In Arlington, a stretch of high temperatures in the 50s and 60s today through Monday will give way to a few days back in the 70s next week.)
Some other health metrics in Arlington are more positive than the case count, however.
No new COVID hospitalizations were reported overnight, and the seven-day total of new hospitalizations has ticked down to nine. One new death was reported today, only the third coronavirus-related death in the county so far this month. Arlington’s test-positivity rate, meanwhile, is holding steady at 3.3%
The county’s case fatality and hospitalization rates, which have been dropping slowly since the pandemic’s peak in the spring, today reached new milestones. The case fatality rate is now 3.5% and the case hospitalization rate is 12.0%. The rates were 4.7% and 15.0%, respectively, as of Aug. 1, per an analysis of Virginia Dept. of Health data.