Prince William Health District reports third coronavirus death

Another person in Prince William County has died from coronavirus disease.

The Prince William Health District reports the victim was in their 60s. No other details about the victim were provided to Potomac Local News.

This is the third reported coronavirus death in the Prince William Health District. The two other victims included someone who was in their 70s who died Friday, March 27, and a victim who was in their 60s died Monday, March 30.

Prince William County saw a 10% increase in the number of reported coronavirus cases overnight, from 175 on Sunday, April 5 to 193 on Monday, April 6.

In the Fredericksburg region, health officials there reported the area’s second coronavirus death — a patient who was in his 50s.

Statewide, there are 2,878 people infected with the disease (a 9% increase over the past 24 hours) with 497 people hospitalized (a 15% increase in the past 24 hours).

Across the U.S., there are 330,891 (an 8% increase in the past 24 hours) with 8,910 reported deaths (a 16% increase in the past 24 hours).

In the wake of the grim news, health officials in Prince Willaim County say coronavirus testing is occurring. Lorrie Andrew-Spear, Prince William Health District spokeswoman, tells Potomac Local News in an email:

Testing is being performed at various urgent care facilities as well as emergency rooms.

Each hospital system has large primary care practices that are testing their patients when appropriate. Nexcare and Novant urgent care. Additionally, a few individual practices are testing their patients.

If individuals are concerned about symptoms they are experiencing they should contact their healthcare provider, who will determine whether they need to be tested, based on the specific situation of the individual. The provider can refer a patient for testing, but facilities may have criteria for testing due to limited testing materials (swabs, transport media, PPE [personal protective equeipment]).

Healthcare professionals evaluating ill patients for suspected COVID-19 can request testing through a private laboratory. VDH approval is not required for this testing.

Because of a limited number of tests available, testing performed at DCLS, Virginia’s state laboratory, is reserved for patients who meet VDH’s priority investigation criteria.

Not every person who has been exposed to COVID-19 needs to be tested. Most people will develop mild to moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that will get better without medical help.

In most instances, a positive test would not change what a doctor tells you to do to get better. Some with mild symptoms may not be tested but told to stay home, rest, and separate themselves from other people in the home as much as possible.

By staying home, you reduce the chance of spreading COVID-19 to others, including healthcare workers who are needed to care for the more seriously ill. If you require medical attention, call ahead.