Coronavirus cases have remained relatively flat throughout most of Virginia, with an uptick in the southwest part of the state.
At his first press conference in weeks, Governor Ralph Northam said Tuesday that the increase is concerning because the area has less access to healthcare.
“The main concern we have, especially in rural Virginia, is our lack of ICU capabilities in those areas and so we have to be very vigilant,” Northam said.
Ahead of the upcoming holiday weekend the administration has opted not to loosen any restrictions, including in eastern Virginia where there had previously been a rise in cases. The state placed additional restrictions on restaurants and bars in Hampton Roads earlier this summer.
Citing spikes after Memorial Day and Fourth of July, Northam urged people to be careful while celebrating the Labor Day holiday and to continue to follow social distancing guidelines.
He’s also urging Virginians to get tested for the virus.
Virginia’s percent positivity, the measure of how many people test positive over the number of overall tests taken, has hovered around 7%. The World Health Organization recommends governments record 5% or lower before re-opening. Several parts of the country have achieved that goal, including New York, D.C. and Maryland.
Click here for more COVID-19 data and guidelines from the Va. Dept. of Health
Northam says there is access to testing at events throughout the state, but fewer people have been showing up.
If someone thinks they may have been exposed to the virus, the Governor urged them to get tested -- even if they don’t have symptoms. Northam mentioned teachers specifically.
“That means that if you have symptoms, you think you’ve been exposed, or you need a test to go back to work you should consult your physician,” Northam said. “If you need a test, please get a test.”
