The number of reported new cases of COVID-19 in Virginia dipped for the second straight day, according to data from the Virginia Department of Health.
The health department reported 565 new cases Monday morning, down from 604 on Sunday and 772 reported Saturday. The number of test results reported to the health department also remained steady. 4,062 new results were included in Monday morning's tally, up from 3,940 reported Sunday.
Ten additional deaths were reported Monday morning. That number is also lower than in recent days and brings the state's total to 448. 2,014 Virginians have been hospitalized for the illness.
Northam update on testing capacity
In his afternoon news briefing, Governor Ralph Northam said the state has received a shipment of 800,000 gloves and 300,000 surgical masks from a private supplier.
Northam said Virginia has been able to increase its testing from about 2,000 a day last week to about 4,000 now. Northam called that "a good step forward" but the state's goal is about 10,000 a day. Virginia received 14,000 test swabs from FEMA and the state Secretary of Health said another 200,000 are on order.
Northam also expressed growing concern about outbreaks in the poultry processing plants on the DelMarVa Peninsula. A team from the Centers for Disease Control is expected to arrive in Virginia's Eastern Shore sometime Monday. Northam said the state is also watching smaller plants in the Shenadoah Valley closely as well and will take efforts to ensure empoyees are screened and infected workers receive treatment.
Northam also noted a dropoff in scheduled childhood vaccinations and encouraged parents to keep vaccinations on schedule. Northam said Virginia does not need an outbreak of a preventable illness like measles in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Northam encouraged voters to participate in the May municipal elections, now scheduled for May 19th, by absentee ballot. The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is May 12th. Northam said additional precautions will be put in place for in-person voting.
