UPDATE: COVID-19 cases in Virginia spike, governor declares state of emergency

Cases of the coronavirus in Virginia have spiked to 17. It’s one of the factors in Governor Ralph Northam declaring a state of emergency.

Northam admits that the workings of the COVID-19 virus are a very fluid situation with conditions changing by the hour but he said the declaration was made to protect and help the public.

“Things have changed, obviously, with this being declared a pandemic by the (World Health Organization). We have new cases in Virginia and quite frankly, we’re getting mixed messages from the federal government. We find that unacceptable so I am taking the lead on us,” the governor said.

The majority of coronavirus in Virginia has currently been isolated to the northern section of the state. The governor has also directed all state-sanctioned conference to be postponed while state employees are barred from travel for 30 days.

(PHOTO: Associated Press)