See below for graphics of the newly posted COVID-19 numbers by the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. So, at this point (12/17), in Virginia we’re at 296,093 total reported – confirmed plus probable – cases (note that actual cases, as well as deaths, could be higher, maybe even a LOT higher, based on stories like this one in the NY Times), 16,503 hospitalizations and 4,553 deaths from COVID-19. The number of reported cases went up 3,853 (+1.3%) in the latest statistics, which is a slightly slower rate of increase than the day before, when reported cases were up 3,931 (+1.4%). As for hospitalizations, they went up 150 (+0.9%), which is a slightly slower rate of increase than the day before, when hospitalizations were up 166 (+1.0%). Deaths are reported +45, compared to +38 the previous day. The number of PCR-ONLY test results is currently at 3,810,790 (up 30,764 from yesterday).