COVID-19 in Virginia

COVID-19 & You

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Click here to view Virginia's Key Measures of COVID-19 data.
This page is updated daily before 10 AM. Numbers are preliminary and close out at 5 PM the day before posting. Case counts reflect what has been reported to VDH by healthcare providers and laboratories.
Navigate between the main page, demographics, locality, and outbreak data using the tabs at the top of the dashboard.

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Virginia hospitals are reporting hospitalizations to VHHA on a daily basis. Please visit the VHHA dashboard for more detailed information.
  • The Virginia Department of Health is responding to the outbreak of respiratory illness, called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), that is caused by a novel (new) coronavirus.
  • The outbreak was first detected in China in December 2019.
  • On March 7, 2020 the first case of COVID-19 in Virginia was announced.
  • COVID-19 has now been detected in more than 100 locations internationally.
  • On March 11, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.
  • On March 12, Governor Northam declared a state of emergency in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
  • On March 23, Governor Northam issued Executive Order 53 that orders the closure of certain non-essential businesses, bans all gatherings of more than 10 people, and closes all K-12 schools for the remainder of the academic year. Governor Northam also urged all Virginians to avoid non-essential travel outside the home, if and when possible. Food establishments are mandated to offer curbside takeout and delivery service only, or close to the public. This order went into effect at 11:59PM on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 and will remain in place until 11:59PM on Thursday, April 23. The full text of the order can be found here and additional guidance and a Frequently Asked Questions guide can be found here.
  • On March 25, Governor Ralph Northam and State Health Commissioner M. Norman Oliver, MD, MA today directed all hospitals to stop performing elective surgeries or procedures to help conserve supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE). The full text of Order of Public Health Emergency Two is available here. The Order expires at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday April 30, 2020.
  • View the Frequently Asked Questions guide on Resuming Non-Urgent Procedures.
  • On March 30, Governor Northam issued Executive Order 55, a statewide Stay at Home order. The executive order took effect immediately and will remain in place until June 10, 2020. The order directed all Virginians to stay home except in extremely limited circumstances. Individuals may leave their residence for allowable travel, including to seek medical attention, work, care for family or household members, obtain goods and services like groceries, prescriptions, and others as outlined in Executive Order Fifty-Three, and engage in outdoor activity with strict social distancing requirements.
  • As of March 31, VDH is reporting widespread community transmission across the state. This means that COVID-19 is spreading within communities across Virginia.
  • VDH urges all Virginians to stay home and practice social distancing. If you have to go out for critical things like grocery shopping or medical care, stay at least 6 feet away from others and wear a cloth face covering.
  • Do your part to STOP the spread by taking everyday precautions, including: washing your hands often, staying at home as much as possible, avoiding close contact with others, covering your coughs and sneezes, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.
  • There is growing evidence that people can spread COVID-19 even if they never develop symptoms or before their symptoms start. Even though this is possible, CDC believes that people are most contagious when they have symptoms. Everyone should limit their exposure by staying home.
  • Most people with COVID-19 develop mild illness and can isolate at home. The most common symptoms are fever, cough and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Other symptoms might include chills, repeated shaking with chills, sore throat, headache, fatigue, body or muscle aches, new loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Not everyone with COVID-19 will have all symptoms and fever might not be present.
  • If you do have symptoms and want to get tested for COVID-19, please reach out to your healthcare provider. Your provider may collect samples to test you or help you to find sampling sites in your area. Learn more about what to do if you feel sick.
  • Healthcare professionals evaluating ill patients for suspected COVID-19 can request testing through a private laboratory. VDH approval is not required for this testing. Testing performed at DCLS, Virginia’s state laboratory, is reserved for patients who meet VDH’s priority investigation criteria.
  • Executive Order 51 "Authorization for the heads of executive branch agencies, on behalf of their regulatory boards as appropriate, and with the concurrence of their Cabinet Secretary, to waive any state requirement or regulation, and enter into contracts without regard to normal procedures or formalities, and without regard to application or permit fees or royalties. All waivers issued by agencies shall be posted on their websites."
  • For media inquiries about statewide coronavirus efforts, please email press@vdh.virginia.gov and include your deadline

Share Facts about COVID-19

CDC Fact Sheet: What you need to know about COVID-19 (Chinese, Spanish)

CDC Fact Sheet: What to do if you are sick with COVID-19 (Chinese, Spanish)

CDC COVID-19 Website