Martinsville-region COVID-19/coronavirus daily update from state, nation and world: Aug. 7 – Martinsville Bulletin

More hospitalizations and more cases of COVID-19 continue be the story in Southwest Virginia. There were 58 new cases today in the West Piedmont Health District, including nine hospitalizations (seven of those in Martinsville and one each in Henry and Patrick counties). The Virginia Department of Health announced this morning that the COVID-19 data numbers contain a significant increase because of a data backlog from earlier in the week. There were 2,015 new cases reported -- more than double the latest daily trend -- although only 18 new deaths. VDH said those figures include information that should have been reported on Wednesday and Thursday of this week as well as the regular numbers for Friday. Henry County reported 30 cases on Friday, Martinsville 17. Patrick County had eight and Franklin County had five. Patrick County School Board is having an emergency meeting this morning after a fourth member of the schools "community" tested positive. There are two other key effects we explore: high unemployment in Martinsville (although slightly declined in Henry and Patrick counties) and the ways churches are collecting without passing the plate at services. Meanwhile, a 7-year-old died in Georgia even as President Trump continues to say kids aren't affected by the virus. Talks about a new stimulus bill appear to be breaking down as the White House and Congressional representatives say they are far apart on structure.The Virginia Department of Health reportsthis morning there have been 97,882 cases and 2,317 deaths statewide. Some 8,281 people have been hospitalized. Henry County has had 573 cases, with 64 hospitalizations and 7 deaths. Martinsville has had 196 cases, with 34 hospitalizations and 3 deaths. Patrick County has had 134 cases including 29 hospitalizations and 4 deaths. Franklin County has had 168 cases, 7 hospitalizations and 1 death. Danville has reported 386 cases, and Pittsylvania County has had 418.Johns Hopkins University's real-time mapshowed 19,135,088 cases worldwide and 715,681 deaths. In the U.S. there are 4,884,985. There have been160,115 deaths in the U.S.

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Martinsville-region COVID-19/coronavirus daily update from state, nation and world: Aug. 7 - Martinsville Bulletin