US: Virginia declares state of emergency over COVID-19

By Vakkas Dogantekin

ANKARA (AA) - The U.S. state of Virginia declared a state of emergency late Thursday after its cases of coronavirus almost doubled overnight to 17.

Ralph Northam, governor of the mid-Atlantic state, announced the measure alongside State Health Commissioner Norman Oliver, State Epidemiologist Lilian Peake, and Attorney General Mark Herring.

Most of the state's cases are in Northern Virginia, the state’s wealthiest region and a de facto suburb of neighboring Washington, D.C.

"From our Health Department, to our schools, to our hospitals, to our transit systems, Virginia’s agencies and institutions have been thoroughly planning for every scenario," said the governor.

"This emergency declaration will ensure we can continue to prepare for and appropriately respond to Virginians’ needs during this time," he added.

- Virginia lacks testing kits

Despite a steady rise in cases, Virginia suffers from a shortage of testing kits, with a mere 500 remaining kits for a population of 8.5 million, reported the Richmond Times-Dispatch, a daily based in the state capital.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the federal body producing and providing states with COVID-19 tests nationwide, is also concerned about inadequate resources to supply the demand.

Northam, in separate remarks, said he expects federal officials to give Virginia the green light to pursue its own test, given the "mixed messages" from federal health authorities.

The Democratic governor also said the state is taking measures to combat COVID-19's spread to the community and state employees such as allowing them work-from-home options and banning work-related state travel for a month.

Virginia is also canceling all state-funded conferences.