The number of COVID-19 cases in Virginia jumped to 30, as of noon Friday.
The numbers from the Virginia Department of Health now include seven presumptive positive cases in James City County, near Williamsburg, and the first case reported in the Shenandoah Valley.
Meanwhile, local governments in the Richmond area declared local emergencies Friday morning. The moves coincide with the state-level declaration and will allow for better coordination of resources.
At a news conference Friday morning, officials called for residents to follow the guidance of the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control.
"To many in our community, these steps may not seem necessary right now. And so many times in the last couple of weeks in the course of our conversations we’ve said we don’t want to feed into the anxiety and the panic and that’s absolutely true," Doctor Danny Avula is the director of the Richmond-Henrico Health District. "And I want you all to hear that these measures are not out of fear, but they’re an act of prevention and compassion and preparation."
Avula said prevention moves like social distancing, canceling large gatherings and handwashing will help slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep it from overwhelming the health care system. Avula said that could result in preventable deaths, not just from COVID-19 but also from other illnesses. Avula said the health department is in the planning stages for centralized screening and testing locations.
Dan Schmitt, vice-chair of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors, also called for residents to follow the recommendations from health officials. "We understand this is an unusual, inconvenient and perhaps frightening time. But it's critical that everyone remains calm, stays informed and follows the CDC's safety recommendations," Schmitt said.
On Thursday, Henrico County and Richmond City schools announced plans to close for at least two weeks. The Richmond City school superintendent said 20 schools will be set up as food distribution sites for students who rely on the free and reduced lunch program.
Loy Senter, Chesterfield County's Fire Chief, said 9-1-1 centers are now asking questions about possible symptoms so that responding crews can use the appropriate protective gear before arriving on scene.
Click here for more COVID-19 information from the Virginia Department of Health
