Government of Virginia. Ralph Northam tested positive for Covid-19
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and his wife have tested positive for Covid-19, his office announced Friday.
The Democratic governor is not experiencing symptoms, while Virginia first lady Pamela Northam currently has "mild symptoms," the governor's office said.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday that he and his wife have both tested positive for the coronavirus, though he said he is showing no symptoms.
he Democratic governor is not experiencing symptoms, while Virginia first lady Pamela Northam currently has "mild symptoms," the governor's office said.
Both will isolate over the next 10 days and the governor will continue working from home.
The Northams were notified Wednesday that a staff member who works at their residence at the governor's mansion developed Covid-19 symptoms and tested positive for the virus. The governor and first lady received PCR nasal swab tests the next day and tested positive.
"As I've been reminding Virginians throughout this crisis, COVID-19 is very real and very contagious," Northam said Friday. "The safety and health of our staff and close contacts is of utmost importance to Pam and me, and we are working closely with the Department of Health to ensure that everyone is well taken care of."
"We are grateful for your thoughts and support, but the best thing you can do for us—and most importantly, for your fellow Virginians—is to take this seriously."
Northam and his wife, who has mild symptoms, plan to isolate for the next 10 days while working remotely, according to a statement from his office.
The Democrat, the country’s only governor who is also a doctor, has previously been criticized by some Republican lawmakers who say his restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the virus are too stringent.
Northam said in a statement that his test result shows that the virus is “very real and very contagious.”
“We are grateful for your thoughts and support, but the best thing you can do for us — and most importantly, for your fellow Virginians — is to take this seriously,” Northam said.
The governor and first lady Pam Northam were notified Wednesday that a member of the Executive Mansion staff developed COVID-19 symptoms and that the staff member’s virus test came back positive.
Three other governors also have tested positive for COVID-19. Earlier this week, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican who has steadfastly refused to require residents to wear masks, announced he’d tested positive. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt in July became the first governor to announce he’d tested positive. He recovered and returned to work less than two weeks later.
The Northams are working with the state health department and the Richmond Heath Department to "trace their close contacts."
Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax wished the Northams a speedy recovery and vowed to "ensure Virginia's sustained strong leadership at a critical time for our Commonwealth and country."
Northam's positive diagnosis comes just two days after Missouri GOP Gov. Mike Parson announced that he and his wife tested positive for Covid-19.
Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine had a coronavirus scare in August, as he initially tested positive before he was set to greet President Donald Trump in Cleveland — only to test negative for the virus hours later.
In July, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, was the first US governor to announce he tested positive for the virus.
In August, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that a rapid test was positive. But a short time later, DeWine said a more sensitive test was negative.
Northam’s announcement comes on the same day as a planned rally by President Donald Trump in Newport News, an event the governor’s staff has asked to be cancelled, re-scheduled or scaled down because of concerns about the virus. The rally is expected to draw 4,000 people, which would violate Northam’s executive order generally banning gatherings of more than 250 people. The Trump campaign has routinely flouted public health guidelines intended to halt the spread of COVID-19 with its events.
