The COVID-19 uptick continues in Virginia: On Thursday, nearly 6,500 new cases of the virus were reported.
That’s one of Virginia's largest one-day jumps in cases since the pandemic began.
Stream NBC4 newscasts for free right here, right now.

Virginia has only reported more than 6,000 cases in a day a few times, and it hasn't happened since January 2021, according to Virginia Department of Health data.
A total of 6,473 cases were reported Thursday, including 2,906 within the Northern Virginia region.
We have the news you need to know to start your day. Sign up for the First & 4Most morning newsletter — delivered to your inbox daily.

It also tops the number of cases counted on Wednesday, 5,972.
The seven-day average of new cases diagnosed has been steadily rising for weeks.
Hospitalizations are also up to 1,473, up from 856 one month ago.
Thirty-three more people died of the virus, according to state data.
COVID-19 cases are up 67.4% over the past two weeks, according to NBC News.
News
News updates for Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia
The large number of cases was announced just a day before Christmas Eve. The Virginia Department of Health urges anyone who would like to attend a holiday gathering to get tested first.