Virginia Reports First Coronavirus Death As Cases Jump To 41

VIRGINIA — The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Virginia jumped to 41 Saturday, with the state reporting its first death, according to the Virginia Department of Health. On Friday, the number of confirmed cases of the virus known as COVID-19 stood at 30.

A man in his 70s, who was hospitalized after testing positive for the coronavirus, died Saturday. The man was one of eight patients diagnosed with the coronavirus so far in James City County, a county in southeastern Virginia with a population of about 67,000.

Officials say the man caught coronavirus from an unknown source. The cause of death was respiratory failure as a result of the virus, the Virginia Health Department and the Peninsula Health District said.

“Pam and I were deeply saddened to learn that a Virginian has died from COVID-19, and we grieve for everyone this virus has touched around the world," Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Saturday afternoon in a statement. "We are working around the clock to keep our Commonwealth safe."

Northam said he will meet with local officials in the James City County and Williamsburg areas Sunday and plans to speak to the community at noon about measures the state is taking to fight the coronavirus.

Northern Virginia is home to 25 the 41 confirmed cases in Virginia, with Fairfax County reporting the most of any county in the state at 10. Arlington County added two more cases Saturday and now has seven, and Loudoun County reported two more cases, bringing its total to five. Prince William County has two confirmed cases and the City of Alexandria has reported one case.

Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. now have a combined 77 cases of the coronavirus. Maryland has 26 and D.C. has 10.

Northam urged Virginians to take the coronavirus seriously. “This is a public health crisis — we must all treat it as such," the governor said. "Take basic health precautions, avoid large gatherings, telework if possible, and stay home if you are sick."

The Peninsula Health District, which has jurisdiction over James City County where the man died, has activated its incident management team and is deploying all resources to contain the outbreak, according to the state health department. The Peninsula Health District said it is trying to identify people who have been in potential contact with people known to have tested positive for the coronavirus in the region.

Elsewhere in Virginia, Virginia Beach has reported three cases of the coronavirus. Spotsylvania, Prince Edward, Hanover and Chesterfield counties, as well as the City of Harrisonburg each has reported one case.

Meanwhile, several grocery store chains, including Wegman's and Harris Teeter, announced Saturday that hours would be modified for various reasons, all of which stemmed from the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Some stores cited the health of employees as a reason for the move.

Starting Sunday night, all Harris Teeter stores will close at 9 p.m. ET each night, the company tweeted. Wegman's said its stores in Virginia would be open 6 a.m.-11 p.m., and its Maryland stores would be open 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus. First found in Wuhan, China during December 2019, it can range from mild to more severe illness, including some cases resulting in death. People who are older or have chronic medical conditions have a higher risk or developing a more serious illness.

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Symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing and can appear two to 14 days after exposure. According to the CDC, COVID-19 is thought to spread between people within six feet of each other through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

The health department is recommending the following measures to prevent the spread of respiratory illness:

• Individuals at increased risk for severe illness, including pregnant women, older adults and persons of any age with underlying health conditions should avoid non-essential travel, public gatherings, or places where large groups of people congregate, such as ticketed events (such as theaters, concert halls, and sporting events).
• Abstain from all cruise ship travel, as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Avoid travel to all areas where there are outbreaks of COVID-19.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer only if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• If you are mildly sick with a fever, stay home until you have been fever-free for 24 hours, except to get medical care.
• Those with high risk factors and who have fever or new or worsening cough, should consider contacting their providers earlier when they are sick.
• Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about COVID-19.

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