Today Virginia tallied a record number of new coronavirus cases and its death toll topped 5,000 people. COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have been piling up in the D.C. region over the past several months, and experts warn holiday travel could only make things worse.

The commonwealth’s new daily case count of 5,239 far passed its previous record of 4,782 cases, set just over a week ago on Dec. 24. Virginia also added 48 new deaths today, bringing its toll to 5,032 fatalities in all.

Its rolling seven-day average positivity rate stands at 13.2% — a high level not seen since mid-May.

Coronavirus hospitalizations have been increasing in Virginia since October, and have been rising particularly fast since mid-November. They passed their previous May peak this month, and have continued to rise since then. Right now, 2,744 people are hospitalized for the virus.

Virginia is currently under a “modified stay-at-home order” that directs people not to leave their homes between midnight and 5 a.m., with several exceptions. It also boosted its mask mandate and added restrictions to sporting events earlier tis month, and is under a 10 p.m. restaurant curfew.

Maryland added another 2,973 new cases today, for 276,662 known COVID-19 cases total. That’s the biggest caseload since Dec. 12. Forty-seven more people have died from the virus, 5,895 in all.

Currently 1,773 people in Maryland are hospitalized for the virus, up 17 from yesterday. Hospitalizations previously peaked on Dec. 15 with 1,799 COVID patients. The state’s positivity rate stands at 8.52%.

Maryland stores, gyms and houses of worship are back to 50% capacity, and gathering and travel restrictions are also in place. Bars and restaurants can only operate at 50% capacity and must close at 10 p.m. Hard-hit Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Baltimore City have banned indoor dining entirely for now.

In D.C., there are 225 new known cases today, for a total of 28,983 in all. Six more people have died, bringing the toll to 786 deaths.

The District’s percentage of patients hospitalized for the coronavirus continues to climb, and now stands at 12.5 of all patients. DC Health considers that percentage too high for its current level of reopening. It last saw levels this high in mid-June.

D.C.’s rolling seven-day average daily case rate now stands at 31.16 per 100,000 people, which the city also considers too high for its Phase Two level of reopening. Its positivity rate stands at 5.7%.

District restaurants, libraries, and museums are closed under a three-week order that lasts through Jan. 15.

Over the past several weeks, local leaders have pleaded with residents to forego holiday travel. “Our message today is simple: you are safer at home for the holidays this year,” Maryland Governor Larry Hogan wrote in a press release earlier this month, a sentiment echoed by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “Making difficult sacrifices during these next few weeks will absolutely help to keep your family, loved ones, and your fellow Marylanders safe.”

Meanwhile, COVID-19 vaccinations have begun to roll out across the region, starting with frontline health care workers, first responders, and long term care staff and residents. Last week Maryland and Virginia released dashboards tracking the efforts.