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 (4/29), in Virginia we’re at 14,961 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), 2,259 hospitalizations and 522 deaths from COVID-19. The number of reported cases went up 622 (+4.3%) in the latest statistics, which is a slower rate of increase than the day before, when reported cases were up 804 (+5.9%). As for hospitalizations, they went up 94 (+4.3%), from 2,165 to 2,259, which is a slightly slower rate of increase than the previous day (which was up 99, or +4.8%). Deaths are reported up 30 (from 492 to 522), compared to an increase of 34 (from 458 to 492) the previous day. So, overall…a bit better stats today, although still not a sign that Virginia is ready to “reopen” yet. The bottom line is that numbers are still going up, and what we really need is to start to see *decreases*, for a change. Hopefully we’ll start to see some improvements in coming days/weeks if we keep up the social distancing and other measures. But if we don’t get the testing, PPE, etc. we need – and, in large part thanks to Trump’s failings, it doesn’t seem like that’s happening – how are we ever going to get to the next phase of the “new normal?” Got me.