On Tuesday, October 13, Governor Northam was cleared by health officials to leave isolation and return to work. He thanked Virginians for their prayers and well-wishes as he and the First Lady recovered from COVID-19.
Under health guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals who test positive can generally discontinue isolation after 10 days and resolution of symptoms. None of the 65 people identified as close contacts of the Governor through contact tracing by the health department have tested positive for the virus.
“When that test comes back positive, it is frightening. This is a dangerous virus. It’s very contagious, and it’s stubborn,” Governor Northam said. “It’s too easy to think, oh, this will never happen to me. But it can. Please take this virus seriously. Please continue to abide by public health guidance – washing hands, wearing masks, and avoiding crowds. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and I know everyone is frustrated. But we’re not out of the woods. We are in this together, and that means we must act to protect not just ourselves, but each other.”
