Coronavirus illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The coronavirus, which has spread across China, South Korea, Italy, Iran and other countries, has inevitably spread to the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 59 people in the U.S. have confirmed cases of the flulike illness known as COVID-19, and public health officials say it’s expected to spread further.
Amazon.com and other retailers are running low on preventive medical gear, including masks and hazmat suits. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 4.4% Thursday, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 4.5%. The S&P 500 was down 10%, the fastest slide from an all-time high since at least 1980, according to news reports.
No cases have been confirmed in Virginia so far, but hospitals, businesses and airports in the commonwealth have emergency plans and measures in place and are closely watching CDC guidelines and updates about the virus.
Here’s a summary of what’s going on in Virginia as of Thursday afternoon:
