The Thomas Jefferson Health District announced three additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total in that area to four.
Meanwhile, a statewide tally of positive cases hit 94 Thursday.
Two of the new cases in the Thomas Jefferson Health District are in the City of Charlottesville. The other is in Albemarle County.
"It is critical that people follow the public health guidelines on social distancing and good hygiene,” Dr. Denise Bonds said in a news release. Bonds is the health district director. People should avoid social gatherings of more than 10 individuals. If you are 65 years or older, or if you have a serious chronic medical conditions, you should seriously consider staying at home according to the news release.
The new cases around Charlottesville do not appear to be reflected in a mid-day update on the Virginia Department of Health's website. VDH reports 94 cases statewide, but only one in the municpalities that comprise the Thomas Jefferson Health District. The VDH website does include some new information, like the number of patients hospitalized, which stood at 19 Thursday.
Click here for more COVID-19 infromation from the Virginia Department of Health
The Fairfax County Health Department also reported a positive case in a resident of The Kensington, an assisted living and memory care facility in Falls Church. A senior living facility in the Richmond area also reported a positive case earlier this week.
In an afternoon briefing in Richmond, Governor Ralph Northam said a child in Gloucester County is also among the recently confirmed patients. The child is recovering at home, health officials said.
State epidemiologist, Dr. Lilian Peake, said there has been an increase in testing capacity at the Virginia state lab. Peake also said the Department of Health is also starting to receive more test results from private labs, indicating an increase in capacity there.
Much of Thursday's briefing was devoted to financial and economic issues. Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne said the state is working to extend the payment deadlines for sales tax receipts as well as individual and business income taxes. Northam also said the State Police have been directed to suspend enforcement of vehicle inspections for 60 days.
The governor also said that Virginia's application to the Small Business Administration has been approved. That will allow business across the Commonwealth to apply for low-interest loans that will help stem the adverse impacts the pandemic may cause.
Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran said regional jails and prisons have taken steps to reduce interaction of inmates to prevent an outbreak.
Visitation and transfers have been suspended. Moran said state officials are also asking prosecutors and judges to consider alternatives to incarceration if public safety dictates. Among those possible steps: Issuing a summons instead of an arrest as well as releasing suspects with personal recognizance bonds.
