For the first time since the COVID-19 crisis began, Virginia came close to reaching its target of 10,000 daily test results. 9,801 new test results were reported by the Virginia Department of Health in Monday morning's update.
At least 167,758 tests have been conducted in Virginia.
989 new COVID-19 cases were also reported Monday, bringing the state's total to 25,070. Eleven additional deaths were also reported, raising the state's total to 850.
A slower reopening in Northern Virginia
Governor Ralph Northam said Monday that most of Virginia is on track to enter Phase One of his reopening plan on Friday. He likely won't make a final decision until Wednesday, though. "If the numbers continue to trend in the direction that they are, especially in areas other than Northern Virginia, then I anticipate that we’ll go into Phase One on Friday," Northam said during a Monday afternoon news conference.
Over the weekend, the governments of Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington counties and the City of Alexandria asked Northam to slow reopening plans in that region. Northam said Monday that metrics on COVID-19 cases there have consistently been higher than in the rest of the state. Northam did not say how a delay there would work or how long it would last. He said he's consulting with leaders in the region and would have more information on Wednesday.
