What are the recommendations for viewing the dashboard: browser, device type, etc.?

For best viewing experience, we recommend using a laptop or desktop device. If you are viewing on a tablet or other mobile device, please do so horizontally for a better experience. Older mobile devices might have limited viewing experiences. If you are using Internet Explorer as your browser, please use version 11.

Why is data now available at the specific zip code level?

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is now publishing new COVID-19 case data by zip code. The recent data release is a change from VDH’s long-standing policy not to disclose data at the ZIP code level, which is particularly important to protect patient privacy when there are relatively few cases of a disease. This change in policy now allows us to share this information on our site. It is also important to note that cases represent a place of residence and not necessarily where transmission may have occurred. Therefore, this information should not be used to determine your individual level of risk or to self-diagnose. Everyone should follow recommendations to stay home, wash hands often, social distance and wear a face covering, inform your contacts if you are sick, and self-quarantine if you had contact with someone who is sick. Learn more about how to protect yourself and slow the spread of COVID-19.

Why do the numbers sometimes not match VDH?

The Virginia Department of Health has a lot of sources of incoming data — commercial labs, public health labs and hospital labs — who are all reporting into the same system that are used to calculate the COVID-19 statewide data. Staff are constantly entering and reviewing data so what gets reported is considered preliminary. Given the volume of cases reported every day, slight difference in counts may reflect what the database has captured at different points in time, or in some instances, counts may need to be adjusted to reflect corrections to data.

What does your hospitalization data include?

Hospitalization data reflects those individuals who were known to be hospitalized during their illness. This information was gathered either through the Health Department’s case investigation or was reported to public health by the hospital. Some individuals may still be in the hospital and others may already be discharged.

Can you include hospital capacity?

The Health Department does not track this information. The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association has a COVID-19 dashboard which reports out on hospital capacity data.

Why does the Fairfax Health District have the most cases in Virginia?

It is important to view the data for Fairfax Health District in light of its large population. The Fairfax Health District has the most cases in the Commonwealth of Virginia but not the highest disease prevalence (a measure of cases per 100,000 residents). Generally, rates of confirmed COVID-19 are higher in Northern Virginia than elsewhere in the Commonwealth and Fairfax has rates similar to its neighboring districts.

Where can I find information about Virginia residents who have recovered from COVID-19?

Recovery information is not data that the Virginia Department of Health collects. Our data reflect a snapshot in time when the case is reported to us and public health is not currently performing subsequent interviews or data collection to see where the person is at another point in the future. It is important to remember that the vast majority of people with COVID-19 recover.

Why are you disclosing race/ethnicity data?

Several reports have described a disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on minority populations in areas of the United States. To better understand the situation in Virginia and Fairfax County, we need more complete data. Race and ethnicity data is included in the dashboard, but please note that it is limited. The race/ethnicity data is gathered by a medical provider who then reports it to the Health Department, however, not all medical providers collected the data for all the cases they reported. Providers are being encouraged to include race and ethnicity data when ordering COVID-19 testing from a reference laboratory and when reporting COVID-19 illness to public health. This data only reflects the number of cases we are aware of through testing in these populations, it does not indicate other factors such as severity or outcomes.

What is the difference between total, confirmed and probable cases?

Total cases represent the number of residents identified to have been infected with COVID-19 in the Fairfax Health District since the beginning of the outbreak. A case represents one person with a COVID-19 infection, individuals are not counted as cases multiple times even if they have more than one positive test. The total case count now includes confirmed and probable cases. Confirmed cases represent the number of individuals who have had COVID-19 positive confirmatory laboratory test. Probable cases are those in which a patient is diagnosed clinically by their doctor because of their symptoms and a known exposure to COVID-19, but they were not tested with a confirmatory test. Probable cases are now included based on new guidance from our federal and state public health partners. More information about case definition for COVID-19 can be found on the CDC website.

What should I know about the daily new cases?

As a reminder, daily case totals are based on when labs report results, not when individuals become infected. And, we are seeing some labs releasing their results in batches, which could result in a large number of positives reported on a given day. This is why we look at the data over a 7-day period which smooths out any differences of lab reporting day by day.

Where can I find daily case counts?

The Fairfax County Data Dashboard is updated every day by 10am and provides a daily update of new cases. Additionally, VDH provides a report of daily counts, including retrospective data, on its dashboard at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/. Click on the Locality tab, then select the Fairfax and cases, hospitalizations, or deaths to see this report. As a reminder, daily case totals are based on when labs report results, not when individuals become infected. Looking at the data over a 7-day period smooths out any differences of lab reporting day by day.

What is the percentage of positive tests?