FILE - Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, left, gestures as his wife, Pam, listens during a news conference in the Governors Mansion at the Capitol in Richmond, Virginia, Feb. 2, 2019.
The governor of the eastern U.S. state of Virginia announced Friday that he and his wife have tested positive for COVID-19.
Governor Ralph Northam said they were notified Wednesday that a staff member who works in the living quarters of their official residence developed symptoms and subsequently tested positive, after which the couple had their own tests done.
He said his wife, Pamela, is experiencing mild symptoms, while he remains asymptomatic.
The couple is isolating for 10 days, during which the governor is continuing his work.
Crews are also cleaning the governor’s mansion, and the Northams are working with state health officials on contact-tracing efforts to make sure anyone they may have been in contact with is aware of their positive tests.
Northam said the best thing people can do is “take this seriously.”