Thirty-four new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Arlington overnight, a total of one-day cases which is the highest since late May.
The new cases bring Arlington’s final seven-day total to 110, the first time that number has been in the triple digits since mid-June. However, no new overnight hospitalizations or deaths were reported.
Arlington has now recorded a cumulative total of 2,660 cases of coronavirus, or about 1.1 cases per 100 residents. That compares with 1.6 and 1.3 cases per 100 residents in neighboring Alexandria and Fairfax County, respectively, according to an analysis of data from the Virginia Department of Health.
Meanwhile, a clear picture is emerging of who has gotten sick in Arlington in recent weeks: the younger people.
In late May, the number of cases between the ages of 20-29 and 50-59 was nearly the same in Arlington. Since then, 2.5 times more people 20-29 have tested positive than those 50-59.
That follows a national trend for new cases of coronavirus in cities that are getting younger. While younger people are generally less susceptible to the more serious complications of COVID-19, they can easily pass the disease on to older and higher-risk people.
In Arlington, the prevalence of the disease remains especially high among the Latino population: 51.6% of cases where the patient’s ethnicity is known are among Latinos, representing 15.6% of the county’s population.
The pandemic recently hit close to home for ARLnow. A positive case was reported at our coworking space in Ballston, although ARLnow employees have been working remotely since March and will continue to do so until 2021.
Dr. Reuben Varghese, Arlington’s Director of Public Health, said in an interview Monday afternoon that while the new cases appear to have decreased 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,” said Varghese. “We are going to have to do things in a safer way.”
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