Virginia Governor Northam, Wife Test Positive For COVID-19

Gov. Ralph Northam managed to survive a push to resign amid last year’s blackface scandal. But on Friday, the governor’s office announced that both the governor and his wife, the first lady of Virginia, had tested positive for COVID-19.

They’re hardly the first governors to test positive: Earlier this week, Missouri Gov Mike Parson, a Republican and opponent of mandatory mask rules, tested positive.

Northam, a Democratic governor of a ‘swing’ state’, said he has no symptoms. Virginia first lady Pamela Northam has “mild symptoms,” CNN said.

governor’s office said. Both will isolate over the next 10 days and the governor will continue working from home.

“As I’ve been reminding Virginians throughout this crisis, COVID-19 is very real and very contagious,” Northam said.

The Northams plan to isolate for at least the next 10 days, and the governor will continue working from home. They’re working with the state’s contact tracers to inform anybody who may have been exposed.

“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.”

Outside Virginia, Northam is perhaps best known for this photo, taken from his medical school yearbook.

The two were notified Wednesday evening that a staffer had tested positive, and tests administered a short while later came back positive.

Back in August, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that a rapid test was positive. But a short time later, DeWine said a more sensitive test came back negative. In July, Oklahoma Gov Kevin Stitt became the first governor to test positive.