As summer approaches, Covid-19 transmission seems to be decreasing in the Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax and Falls Church. After hitting 601 cases on May 25th, the district’s weekly average has dipped to 457.4 cases per day on Thursday June 2nd, and is currently sitting at 479.1 cases, according to Virginia Department of Health data.

The testing positivity rate keeps increasing, reaching 18.7% as of June 2nd the highest mark since Jan. 23 (19.6%).  Less than half as many tests are being used now compared to last winter. 

“While the number and rate of COVID-19 cases in Fairfax County has decreased in the past 2 weeks, we urge caution in interpreting this finding,” Dr. Ben Schwartz, the Fairfax County Health Department’s director of epidemiology and population health, said in an emailed statement. 

Schwartz noted that most tests are taken at home and aren’t shared with the Health Department.

Hospitalizations are also still on the rise, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which still classifies Fairfax County’s community level as “medium”, since the case rate is 297.68 per 100,000 residents, as of June 2nd.

The Fairfax Health District reported 355 new cases on Monday June 6th, bringing its totals for the pandemic up to 205,181 cases, 4,564 hospitalizations, and 1,522 deaths,  four of them confirmed within the past week. 

Schwartz cautioned that infections continue to spread and are also starting to shift into different mutations of the omicron variant. 

“Remaining up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, staying home when ill and getting tested, and talking with your doctor about precautions for people at higher risk of severe illness all continue to be strongly recommended,” Schwartz said.