The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 related complications continues to rise in the western part of the state. 363 people were hospitalized in the health department’s Near Southwest region. That includes hospitals in Roanoke, Lynchburg, Danville, Martinsville and parts of the New River Valley. A graph of COVID-19 hospitalizations from the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. A week ago, that figure was 305. The number of patients in Intensive Care (83) and on ventilators (44) also increased. Statewide, 2,586 people were hospitalized with confirmed or pending COVID-19 diagnoses Wednesday, according to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association dashboard. That's the highest number since the pandemic began and about a thousand more than one month ago.