A Fairfax County man in his 60's has reportedly died of COVID-19, making it the third death related to the virus in Virginia.
Meanwhile, state health officials now say there's a total of 152 COVID-19 cases in the Commonwealth, an increase of 38 from Friday.
That total includes 25 in the Central region, 42 in Virginia's eastern region, 77 in Northern Virgina, and 2 in the Southwest.
The updated total does not include 3 new cases announced Friday evening by Carilion Clinic, or a case in Lynchburg announced by the health district there.
Governor Ralph Northam says the state is also easing the testing criteria in order for residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities to be tested. On Friday, he issued an executive order, allowing hospitals and nursing homes more flexibility to add beds during this national emergency.
State epidemiologist Dr. Laurie Forlano also says those tests will be provided to health care workers and first responders.
Virginia's Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Daniel Carey, says the state is working to acquire more personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks and gowns, from the national stockpile, private practices, as well as industrial suppliers, like those in mining. But Carey said this is a national problem.
"This will not be solved without a national solution," he said. "Otherwise, you have each state grabbing for what we can, and we are in a responsible way, but we need a national solution."
Denise Toney with Virginia's Department of General Services says Virginia has the capacity to provide tests to more than 1,000 patients.
Governor Northam has not considered workforce limitations like those enacted in New York. But Northam says he’s not looking at “what if’s”, or what it make take to consider such a move.
“We have taken aggressive steps in Virginia to combat this, to keep it under control, to flatten that curve, if you will, and I’ll continue to monitor it, and make decisions as necessary to Virginians safe."
Earlier this week, the governor gave law enforcement the ability to enforce a 10-person limit on gatherings in businesses, including restaurants and theaters. Northam said violators can lose their operating license, and receive a misdemeanor.
Click here for more information on Virginia's response to COVID-19.
