Gov. Northam says coronavirus testing in the state has gone up 41% in the past week since the creation of a special testing task force. About 4,000 tests are now being done daily in the state with a goal of 10,000 tests a day within the next few weeks.
Increased testing, especially trying to find asymptomatic positive cases, is a key component in the Governor's plan to reopen Virginia's economy.
Governor Northam is also concerned about potential coronavirus outbreaks among the employees of Virginia's 120 meat processing facilities. Outbreaks have occurred in poultry processing plants along the Eastern Shore and in the Shenandoah Valley.
Northam joined the governors of Maryland and Delaware in asking for federal help with the processing plants on the Delmarva Peninsula. The CDC has issued new guidelines for the plants and is sending teams to plants in all three states.
The Governor's "Forward Virginia" business task force continues to meet to develop guidelines that will allow the state's businesses and economy to reopen. Northam says the task force may consider ways to allow some regions in the state to reopen before others.
The state has received $14 million in federal funds to establish a recovery program for Virginia businesses. The Commonwealth Transportation Board has received $100 million for relief funds for local transit agencies, and $2 million in federal funding will go toward mental health and substance abuse services.
Northam announced that a second shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) arrived this week from a contractor which included 800,000 gloves and 300,000 masks. The Federal Emergency Management Agency sent 14,000 testing swabs and Virginia has an additional 200,000 swabs on order.
More on this story from our media partner, ABC 13 - WSET.