More than a 266,000 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus and more than 7,000 people have died from the disease across the capital region of D.C., Maryland and Virginia, health officials say.

As of Friday, 266,004 cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed. D.C. reported 14,852 cases, Maryland had 119,062 cases and Virginia had 132,090 confirmed cases.

A total of 7,098 people in D.C., Maryland and Virginia have lost their lives to COVID-19, health officials say.

Maryland moved into phase three of reopening at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4. Several counties including Prince George's County opted to delay entry into phase three.

Phase two of reopening began on June 5 in most parts of Maryland and Virginia. Virginia moved into phase three reopening on July 1. D.C. moved into phase two on June 22.

Over the summer, D.C., Maryland and Virginia imposed measures to prevent the virus from spreading.

Maryland reinforced its mask rules and advised against travel to nine states. D.C. revised its list of "high-risk states" last Monday and will now require residents and visitors entering the city from certain states to self-quarantine for two weeks and imposed a mask mandate. Virginia has added restrictions to Hampton Roads, where cases were surging.

Coronavirus Cases in DC, Maryland and Virginia

COVID-19 cases by population in D.C. and by county in Maryland and Virginia

For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms including fever, shortness of breath and cough. Recovery might take about two weeks. Severe illness including pneumonia can occur, especially in the elderly and people with existing health problems, and recovery could take six weeks in such cases. Other coronavirus related issues can include MIS-C, a rare inflammatory syndrome that affects children.

At the onset of the outbreak essential workers, including law enforcement and grocery store employees, were hit hard by the virus. People living in group or institutional settings are also vulnerable.

Virginia: 132,090 Confirmed Cases

A total of 132,090 people have tested positive for the virus in Virginia as of Friday. There are 2,755 confirmed deaths in the state, health officials say.

Fairfax County is suffering the state's highest number of cases, with more than 20,000 people diagnosed as of Friday. Prince William County has more than 11,900 confirmed cases. More than 6,600 people have been diagnosed in Loudoun County.

Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey reports on a volunteer paramedic from Loudoun County who is back on the job after nearly dying after being infected with COVID-19 on the job.

A Loudoun County schools staff member, two adults in the Peninsula Health District and one person in the Pittsylvania Danville Health District are among more who have died.

The pastor of a Virginia church said he feels blessed to be recovering from an illness made it difficult to even walk up two stairs to his home. "This virus is no joke," said Kenny Baldwin.

A U.S. Marine who is assigned to Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County and lives at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Prince William County was the state's first diagnosed case.

One of the first patients diagnosed in Arlington County was "associated with Christ Church in Georgetown," where Washington, D.C.'s, earliest cases were found, county officials said. Several early cases stemmed from that congregation.

Other Virginia residents who were among the first to be diagnosed include: A Loudoun County resident and member of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service in their 40s who tested positive after "attending Christ Church Georgetown," a Fairfax resident in his 80s who went on a Nile River cruise and began to develop symptoms on Feb. 28, his spouse who later tested positive, and one Arlington patient in their 60s who "developed fever, cough and shortness of breath after having returned from international travel," according to officials.

DC: 14,852 Cases Confirmed

A total of 14,852 people have the coronavirus in D.C. as of Friday. There are 619 recorded deaths. The city says at least 11,800 former coronavirus patients have been cleared from isolation.

Black or African-American residents have died in disproportionate numbers. Of those who died from COVID-19, 75% were Black or African-American.

People in their 30s and 40s, males and Ward 4 residents are the groups of Washington, D.C., residents with the most known cases of coronavirus, data released by the city says.

As the virus continues to spread, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that D.C. Public Schools would have a completely virtual fall semester.

As of July 22, Bowser also mandated all D.C. residents wear masks upon leaving their homes, with few exceptions, in order to quell the spread of the virus.

At the height of demonstrations against the death of George Floyd, Bowser urged all protestors to get a free COVID-19 test and to continue wearing face masks at protests to prevent the spread.

The mayor has also urged everyone to seek medical care and testing if they need it, regardless of immigration status.

D.C. Public Schools are seeing a 70% drop in vaccinations among students. You can get your child vaccinated regardless of your ability to pay. Mobile medical clinics are following all COVID-19 guidelines. News4’s Justin Finch reports.

Two city employees, Kenneth Moore, a D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services worker, and George Valentine, a member of the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel, also died. On June 5, a officer Keith Williams became the first D.C. police officer believed to have died from the virus.

More than 30 police officers and firefighters tested positive for the disease and more than 300 were under self-quarantine in April due to exposure concerns.

A rector in his 50s at Christ Church Georgetown was the first person to test positive. He had "no history of international travel and no close contacts with a confirmed case," Bowser said. A 39-year-old organist at the same church later tested positive.

Other D.C. patients who were among the first to be diagnosed include: a man from Nigeria in his 50s who traveled to D.C. then went to Maryland for treatment; a 77-year-old man who attended a conference held in Boston by the biotechnology company Biogen; a 59-year-old man with a history of travel to a Level 3 country; a 58-year-old woman who attended a conference in the District where other positive cases were identified; a 39-year-old man with a history of travel to a Level 3 country; a 24-year-old man with no known exposure; a 59-year-old woman who had contact with a previously identified case in the District and a 69-year-old woman with no known exposure.

Maryland: 119,062 Cases Confirmed

As of Friday, officials have confirmed that 119,062 people have tested positive for the virus and 3,724 have died in Maryland.

Prince George's County is the hardest-hit in the state, with 794 deaths and more than 28,300 cases. Montgomery County has confirmed more than 21,600 cases and 796 have died.

Data shows that Montgomery and Baltimore Counties also have the most coronavirus cases and deaths in long-term care facilities in Maryland, with more than 2,000 confirmed cases each.

As cases rise in Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan instated a new mask mandate to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

A union that represents University of Maryland shuttle bus drivers says two students recently broke a bus window after the driver told them they couldn’t board without wearing face masks. The university said in an update that drivers can “forgo a stop if they see any threat to safety.” News4’s Justin Finch reports

Officials announced the state's first coronavirus-related death on March 18. A Prince George's County man in his 60s died, Gov. Larry Hogan said.

A Baltimore County man in his 60s who had underlying medical issues was the state's second death related to the coronavirus, Gov. Larry Hogan said in March.

A 5-year-old girl from Howard County was one of the first children in the region to be confirmed to have coronavirus. A 15-year-old girl from Baltimore County became one of Maryland's youngest known victims of coronavirus, health officials say. She died on May 16.

Other victims include: a Prince George's County high school basketball coach and counselor, a Charles County resident in his 50s, two Baltimore City women with underlying medical conditions, a Wicomico County woman in her 60s and a man in his 90s who was a resident of a Carroll County nursing home.

Among the first diagnosed cases were three people in Montgomery County who were the first patients in the area to be diagnosed after they took a cruise in Egypt, on the Nile River, have fully recovered and can return to their daily lives. They are a woman in her 50s and a married couple in their 70s, who did not travel as a group. A Montgomery County resident in his 60s and a woman in her 60s also later tested positive after visiting Egypt, Hogan said.

West Virginia: 13,683 Cases Confirmed

As of Friday, West Virginia has 13,683 cases of coronavirus and 297 people in the state have died of the disease.

The state reported its first coronavirus-related death at the end of March. The victim was an 88-year-old woman from Marion County, the Department of Health and Human Resources said in a news release.

Gov. Jim Justice issued a "Safer At Home" order effective May 4.

What to Know About Coronavirus

Coronavirus is a family of illnesses that include the common cold and the flu and more serious illnesses including SARS. The COVID-19 virus is still being studied, but doctors say symptoms can include those similar to the cold and flu, including mild to severe respiratory symptoms.

Health officials urge people to socially distance and take typical precautions against spreading germs. Stay home unless absolutely necessary. Avoid contact with others. Self-quarantine for two weeks if you have any symptoms of coronavirus, including cough, fever and shortness of breath.

Wash hands often; use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol; don't touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; avoid close contact with anyone who is sick; cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and disinfect frequently used objects and surfaces.

Officials say one of the best ways to prevent becoming ill is to wash your hands frequently.

If you believe you may have coronavirus, call your health provider before you visit so they can prepare and prevent the further spread of germs.