The victim was a Virginia Beach man in his 70s with underlying health conditions.

It was the first reported coronavirus death in Virginia Beach and the 18th positive case.

There have been 290 positive cases confirmed in the commonwealth.

“It would be nice to say this would be behind us in two weeks,” Gov. Ralph Northam said in his news conference Tuesday afternoon. “That’s really not what the data tells us. The data tells us this will be with us for two to three months and perhaps even longer.”

“We could not be more disappointed in the action that Jerry took in telling students they could come back and take their online classes on campus,” Lynchburg City Manager Bonnie Svrcek told The Associated Press.

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As college campuses across the country began announcing campus closures earlier this month, Liberty, which is among the nation’s largest and most prominent evangelical institutions, initially planned to continue on-campus instruction. But last week, after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam restricted gatherings of more than 100, Liberty said it would transition most classes online.

Residential students were told they were welcome to return to campus. The move was at odds with many other institutions of higher education that have urged students to stay home amid the health crisis that’s upending daily life around the globe.

Liberty spokesman Scott Lamb said about 1,100 students were back on campus as of Tuesday morning.

The university said it is providing safe and reliable accommodations and taking extra steps to ensure students’ health, including extra sanitizing measures and changes to on-campus dining.

Falwell, one of President Donald Trump’s earliest and most ardent supporters, has speculated on Fox News that coronavirus may have been the work of North Korea.

The virus causes only minor flu-like symptoms in most people, who recover in a matter of weeks. But it is highly contagious and young people who show no symptoms can infect others. It can cause severe illness or death, particularly among the elderly and people with underlying health problems, and severe cases are already stressing the health care system’s capacity to respond.

Svrcek said the city has fielded concerned phone calls.

“People are saying, ‘This is terrible. What can you do?’” she said.

Dr. Kerry Gateley, a regional health director for the Virginia Department of Health’, said his office had also received calls from worried citizens and parents of Liberty students.

Gov. Ralph Northam said at a news conference Monday afternoon that he signed an executive order to close many businesses for at least 30 days. 

Restaurants can continue carryout, delivery and drive-thru service.

All recreational and entertainment businesses must close, Northam said. These include bowling alleys, theaters, fitness centers and race tracks. Any “personal care services” that cannot adhere to social distancing also must close, including barbershops, massage parlors and spas. 

All non-essential stores can remain open but are limited to having only 10 patrons at a time. They must “adhere to social distancing and increase sanitization.” 

“We are essentially fighting a biological war right now in this country,” Northam said, acknowledging the hardships the restrictions would create for many residents.

Grocery stores, health services and businesses “in the supply chain” can remain open but also must ramp up distancing and sanitization. ABC stores, which sell alcohol, also can remain open.

The restrictions on businesses take effect at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday. 

The restrictions announced Monday are a steep step up from what business owners and employees faced last week. Last Tuesday morning, Northam recommended that restaurants, gyms and theaters serve a maximum of 10 people at once. Later in the day, he made it a requirement. 

Go here to see the full executive order and here to see answers to frequently asked questions. 

The two-week-long school closures that Northam announced March 13 were set to expire this Friday, March 27. 

School leaders will get guidance Tuesday on four different options for how students can do their work and try to complete courses. 

The governor underscored the need for child care for the children of essential workers. He called on communities to keep day care centers open or provide other means of caring for the estimated 80,000 children of first responders and health care providers. 

Groups of 10 or more people in any public place will be ordered to disperse. 

Virginia had 254 positive cases of coronavirus as of Monday afternoon. Six people with the virus died. 

About 3,700 people had been tested for the virus by public and private laboratories. 

Northam said more people would test positive. 

“These numbers unfortunately will continue to rise. We are in this for months, not weeks,” he said. 

Northam acknowledged that the extended school closure would have serious impacts on families of young children, and he called for “an urgent public-private response” to make sure essential workers have access to childcare. The Department of Social Services and Department of Education would be issuing guidance to communities later Monday, he said. 

The governor also said he understood the impact the changes would have on the economy, noting that about 40,000 people filed for unemployment just last week. But he said the sooner the health care crisis was brought under control, the sooner the economy could begin to recover. 

“We are moving into a period of sacrifice,” he said.

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story. 

Two weeks ago, Virginia lawmakers approved legislation to allow developers to build five large casino resorts around the state in what supporters have long hoped will be a dramatic economic boost to struggling areas. Virginia is one of the few states in the country where casinos are currently banned.

But those plans could be in serious doubt amid the coronavirus pandemic, which forced nearly every commercial casino in the country to close just a matter of days after lawmakers voted.

While huge swaths of the economy are being hurt by the virus, the cash-dependent casinos’ pain has been particularly acute.

Stock prices of major casino operators have cratered, including those vying to move to Virginia, raising questions about whether the industry will be able to finance the gleaming casino resorts that lawmakers have envisioned, even if they can afford the $15 million licensing fee the state plans to charge. Lobbyists for casinos and hotels are are now desperately pressing the federal government for massive bailouts.

“Gaming employees, their families, and communities are bearing the brunt of this economic standstill and will continue to suffer if Congress and the administration don’t take immediate action,” said Bill Miller, president of the American Gaming Association.

Pro-casino backers in Virginia said there is no time to panic, and there is still time for the industry to rebound before Virginia could be impacted. Potential operators in Virginia still have to clear a voter referendum in November in cities slated to get casinos, and then a state vetting process before licenses are awarded and construction can begin.

“We have time on our side,” said state Sen. Louise Lucas, who has spent two decades trying to convince her colleagues to legalize casinos. “I’m the eternal optimist.”

Some of the proposed casinos in Virginia are also backed by wealthy private investors who may be better able to weather an economic downturn than publicly traded casino companies.

And would-be casino operators said none of their plans have changed.

“Caesars will continue to pursue a gaming license in Virginia and hopes to build and operate a casino in Danville,” said Richard Broome, a spokesman for gaming giant Caesars Entertainment.

David Schwartz, a gambling expert at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, said it’s impossible to predict the near future for the casino and hotel industry and how that might impact Virginia.

“Long-term, casino gaming is a dependable enough bet in Virginia that it might not be difficult to raise money to fund it, but short-term, operators may prioritize stabilizing their existing operations,” Schwartz said.

The next step in legalizing casinos in Virginia rests with Gov. Ralph Northam, who may try to amend the legislation. If he does make changes, lawmakers would vote on them during a one-day legislative session currently scheduled for late April.

Some would-be casino developers have complained that the current legislation does not mandate a competitive bidding process for casino licenses, something Northam could try to address.

“In light of the current environment and new risks we are facing, it is even more imperative” that there be more competition for casino licenses, said developer Steve Johnson, who has pitched an alternate proposed casino in the Bristol area than the one backed by state and local officials there.

Currently three of the five cities allowed to have casinos — Norfolk, Bristol and Portsmouth — already have either formal or informal agreements with potential casino operators in place. Danville is considering proposals from seven different would-be operators. And at least two entities — the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and the owners of Colonial Downs, the state’s only horse track — have expressed interest in a potential Richmond casino, though others may emerge.

The Northam administration hasn’t said specifically whether the governor will try to change the casino bill. But Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne said the coronavirus will force the state to take a closer look at both casinos in general and city-specific agreements. He said no one, including lawmakers, has considered the coronavirus’ long-term impact on whether gamblers will still be willing to spend time and money on crowded casino floors.

“Certainly, there’s going to have to be some additional scrutiny,” Layne said. “They’re not the panacea everybody thinks they are.”

Mary Washington Hospital is preparing for the worst case scenario by creating a field hospital to serve as an overflow emergency room. They typically have the capacity to handle 150 to 250 patients. But as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, they expect they’ll serve way more than that. 

“So the idea is folks with respiratory complaints and fevers that we expect may need to be screened or treated for coronavirus com come here,” said Dr. Eric Tosh. 

In about 10 days the plans are expected to be completed. They have the space set up to function nearly the same as their normal ER. There is a nurse triage station, laptops for accessing electronic medical records, an HvAC system and a room for X-rays.

There preparations are helping ease the concerns of patients but also healthcare workers. 

“One of the things that cause people the most anxiety is thinking about the worst case scenario and this thing was built to accommodate the worst case scenario,” Tosh said.

The number of people with coronavirus in D.C., Maryland and Virginia approached 300 on Thursday, with illnesses affecting patients from elementary-school-age children to nursing home residents.

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In Northern Virginia, officials warned of community transmission, meaning that people are becoming infected with the coronavirus from unknown sources.

Washington D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser also warned of ongoing community spread.

Throughout the week, leaders in D.C., Maryland and Virginia have directed escalating steps to compel social distancing, which is one of our best ways to slow the spread of disease.

Tens of thousands of children were home from school all week and streets around the D.C. area emptied as workers stayed home. Restaurants in D.C. and Maryland were directed to stop dine-in service, and in Virginia were limited to 10 patrons at a time.

But not everyone heeded warnings and pleas to socially distance themselves. Gov. Larry Hogan chided people who he said acted like it’s spring break. At a press conference Thursday, he issued a stern message to Marylanders.

“Let me be very clear. If you are engaged in this type of activity, you are in violation of state law and you are endangering the lives of your fellow Marylanders,” he said.

The number of diagnosed cases spiked this week, growing from about 100 at the beginning to nearly 300 by Friday morning.

But the social distancing measures also threaten economic hardship, especially for those who work at or own restaurants, bars, theaters and other entertainment venues.

Unemployment Claims

A total of 1,378 people filed for unemployment in the District from Friday, March 13 to Sunday. On Wednesday, 3,009 people filed for unemployment.

In Maryland, unemployment claims spiked five-fold in one day, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Virginia has seen a spike in unemployment claims. About 14,000 residents applied Monday through Wednesday, Megan Healy, the state’s chief workforce development advisor, said Friday morning. On Thursday alone, more than 16,000 people applied. Last week, just 323 people applied.

If you need help and you think you could be eligible, apply, Healy said. You could get money as soon as next week. 

“If you think at all that you can get unemployment, we want everyone to apply,” she said. “The rules change daily, maybe hourly, of who can get unemployment insurance. So if you are denied, we’re going to keep that data. If the rules change from the [US] Department of Labor, we can go back and issue those checks.” 

Virginia waived a one-week waiting period and a work-search requirement. Officials increased server capacity to speed up the application website, and unemployment officials are taking over Department of Motor Vehicles call centers so they can help more residents get unemployment benefits faster. 

During all of November 2019 and December 2019, about 9,700 and 15,300 claims were filed, respectively, the state says.

Both Maryland and Virginia have adjusted unemployment regulations to make it more readily available. Here’s information about how to file for unemployment in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Virginia has 94 cases of coronavirus as of Thursday afternoon, including 56 in Northern Virginia. The state’s first case inside a long-term care facility for seniors was found in Falls Church. And the state has its first child with the virus, a Gloucester County resident.

A man who lives at The Kensington Falls Church was diagnosed. Officials didn’t immediately know how the virus got inside. 

So far, tests have shown that none of the 109 other residents of the facility have the virus. Two employees were in isolation, awaiting results. 

Coronavirus is particularly dangerous for people who live in such facilities, said Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, director of epidemiology for the Fairfax County Health Department. 

“If one person in that setting gets infected, they can spread it to others who are also in that setting,” he said. 

Kensington administrators declined interviews but said the facility had already limited visitors, per CDC guidelines. Residents were keeping in touch with loved ones via video calls. 

A Recommendation Against Arrests

In an update Thursday, state officials called for alternatives to incarceration.

Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran asked police officers to issue summonses instead of making arrests, when public safety considerations allow. Judges and magistrates should consider alternatives to incarceration. And judges and prosecutors should consider modifying sentences, such as through the use of ankle monitors. 

“Allow people to remain out and not incarcerated,” Moran said. 

These measures are an effort to protect inmates, law enforcement and personnel, he said. 

Help for Medicaid Patients and Anyone Who Owes Tax Dollars

People who use Medicaid will have no copays for services, enhanced telemedicine options and extended prescription refills, Gov. Ralph Northam said. 

About 10,000 unemployment claims have been filed so far. 

Individuals and businesses will get some leeway on paying taxes. The personal and corporate income tax payment deadline was extended to June 1. Businesses have until June 20 to pay sales taxes. 

Changes at Day Care Centers

Also Thursday, child care centers in the state began to adjust to new guidelines. Some closed their doors. Some that stayed open faced criticism online. 

Many essential workers in Northern Virginia need day care centers to stay open, said Emily King of LLE Education Group

“A lot of these schools, this school in particular, we serve a lot of first responders, nurses and doctors — a lot of government workers — that are essential. We know those people need to go to work right now to fight this virus.” 

Officials said Wednesday that families who send their children to day care centers should expect big changes. 

“We ask all the parents of the Commonwealth, that if you are not an essential personnel, that you stay home with your children, like we are doing with schools, to make available capacity for child care centers to provide the necessary care to essential personnel,” Commissioner Duke Storen said. 

Virginia’s restaurants, gyms and theaters can now serve only 10 people at once, according to an emergency order Tuesday night from the governor. Earlier Tuesday, Northam had said the 10-person rule was only a recommendation. It now is required.

CORRECTION (March 20, 2020, 10:56 a.m. ET): An earlier version of this story listed an incorrect tax payment deadline. 

Founder Ali Hashemi, is renting out her stationary bikes to customers and hosting her usual classes live online.

She said her first thought was about what she could do to help the community and figured if people could cycle in her studio they could cycle at home, too.

“Good Sweat is really about community, about bringing people together, about making sure everyone is taken care of physically and mentally and that’s how we are doing that during this time of closure,” Hashemi said.

During this time of stress and uncertainty, staying active will help maintain mental health, according to psychiatrist Dr. James Gordon.

“We are meant to move our bodies, if you can’t go to the gym figure out a way to do it at home,” Gordon said.

For this reason, Hashemi’s program is very helpful for the riders who want to keep up with their exercise routine. One such rider, Liz Rosenbaum, said having the time to be active is really important to her. Rosenbaum now works from home and the one place she said she could depend on to de-stress, Good Sweat, was closed.

“I was nervous about what I would be able to do if I couldn’t go outside for a run or anything like that,” Rosenbaum said.

But with Hashemi’s idea, Rosenbaum and other riders don’t have to disrupt their routine and Hashemi’s business gets to stay afloat.

“I’ve had so many people who have come to pick up the bikes and said, ‘thank you, thank you you’re helping,’ Hashemi said. “I say thank you right back from them because for us this is how we are going to survive.”

Below is a breakdown of information based on region:

D.C.

The D.C. Council unanimously passed a bill on Tuesday expanding the response to the coronavirus pandemic by expanding eligibility for unemployment insurance to workers who have been laid off or lost hours and extending the protections under the Family Leave and Medical Act. The Unemployment Insurance Guideline explains that employers in the District of Columbia are required to pay employees for illness under the Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act.

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Who is eligible to file a claim?

• An employee (any individual employed by an employer)
• A spouse or domestic partner
• The parents of either the employee or the spouse
• Children, including grandchildren and foster children
• Brothers and sisters of either the employee or spouse
• A residing child for whom the employee has parental responsibility
• A person who has co-habituated with the employee for no less than 12 months

Employees Not Covered

• Independent contractors
• Students
• Healthcare workers who choose to participate in a premium pay program
• Volunteers who work in non-profit organizations, charitable, religious or educational establishments
• Appointed or elected lay members engaged in religious functions in any religious organization
• Employees in the construction or building industry covered by a bona fide collective bargaining agreement
• Casual babysitters

Workers can apply for unemployment insurance on the Department of Employment Services website.

Virginia

Governor Ralph Northam announced several protective actions for Virginians affected by the outbreak. The one-week waiting period will be waived to ensure worker benefits will be provided quickly. An increased number of workers will be eligible, including those directed to self-quarantine if they don’t have paid leave from their employer. Workers that must stay home to care for a family member without paid leave are also covered. There will also be fewer restrictions on workers applying for unemployment insurance.

The governor’s office has a frequently asked questions guide for workers that have been temporarily laid off because of the coronavirus. 

Unemployment claims can be filed with the Virginia Employment Commission once a worker has been unemployed for a full day. Employees with reduced hours can also apply for a maximum weekly benefit of $378. To be eligible for benefits claimants must

One eligibility is determined a payment will be processed after the first week of claims.

Maryland

Workers in Maryland are directed to use their employer-paid time off first. The Maryland Healthy Working Families Act requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide paid sick and safe leave.

Lawmakers in Maryland passed an emergency declaration on Wednesday extending benefits to people who lose their jobs related to the coronavirus. It allows the state to extend benefits over risk of exposure or the need to care for a sick relative.

A worker is eligible to file for unemployment if they lost their job through no fault of their own. People who are sick are not eligible. However, some who are ordered by a medical professional to isolate may qualify.

Claims can be filed through the state labor department’s website or by phone.

A list of frequently asked questions has been posted to the Department of Labor website.

Virginia tightened restrictions Tuesday night on how businesses must operate to slow the spread of coronavirus. 

Restaurants, fitness centers, and theaters must serve no more than 10 people at once, an emergency order issued by Gov. Ralph Northam says. Restaurants can still offer carryout service. 

The governor stopped short of ordering businesses to completely close, as Washington, D.C., and Maryland have done. Earlier Tuesday, Northam said the 10-person limit was only a recommendation. The emergency order issued after 6 p.m. Tuesday made the 10-person limit a requirement that is punishable as a misdemeanor, or businesses can lose their permits. 

“I hope that everyone will have the common sense to stay home tonight and in the days ahead,” Northam said in a statement. “This order will ensure that state and local officials have the tools they need to keep people safe.” 

Here’s the exact text of the executive order: “all restaurants, fitness centers, and theatres are mandated to significantly reduce seating capacity to 10 patrons, or close; while encouraged to continue carry-out and takeaway options.” 

You can read the order here. There is no end date. 

In the Mosaic District and Old Town Alexandria, many restaurants had already closed their dining rooms and were offering carryout and delivery service only. 

Additionally, state officials say there now is community spread in Virginia and that the state has its first case in a nursing facility, in a development the health commissioner called “concerning.” 

There are now 67 diagnosed cases of coronavirus in Virginia, up from 51 on Monday. Northern Virginia has dozens of cases. Two state residents have died.

Northam recommended that Virginia residents avoid large groups of people. 

“We are directing everyone across the state to abide by the 10 rule,” he said at a news conference Tuesday morning, referring to the guidance President Donald Trump gave Monday. 

“I’m much more about carrots than sticks,” Northam said Tuesday morning when he was asked about enforcement. 

Unemployment funds are available in Virginia, and a one-week waiting period has been waived. 

“We know that rent and other bills won’t wait,” Northam said. 

Department of Motor Vehicles offices will close. 

The state health department had 300 to 400 coronavirus test kits as of Tuesday afternoon. Others were being ordered. 

All public schools in Virginia are closed for at least two weeks in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus. Northam said Friday that schools would be closed March 16-27, at a minimum. 

“I recognize this will pose a hardship on many families, but closing our schools for two weeks will not only give our staff time to clean and disinfect school facilities, it will help slow the spread of this virus,” the governor said in a statement. 

Two days later, on Sunday, Northam banned all gatherings of more than 100 people.

The residents who died of the virus were a man in his 70s who lived near James City County and a man in his 70s who lived in the Peninsula region. 

Sixty-seven people had tested positive for the virus in Virginia as of Tuesday morning. The patients included residents of Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties. 

The governor sought to reassure residents. 

“We will get through this together. We live in the best state, in the best country in the world,” he said. 

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story. 

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Virginia has 77 cases of coronavirus as of Wednesday morning, up an additional 10 cases from the previous day. 

Gov. Ralph Northam and state officials said the state now has clusters of virus cases, outside Northern Virginia, and that families who send their children to day care centers should expect big changes. 

There are three outbreaks of coronavirus in the state, Health Commissioner Norman Oliver said at a news conference. An outbreak is a group of “two or more cases that we can trace to a common exposure.” 

There are two outbreaks in Richmond, one in James City County and none in Northern Virginia, Oliver said. In James City County, there are 17 COVID-19 cases. Officials are investigating more than 350 people with whom those patients came into contact. 

Overall, the state’s northern health planning region had the most cases, at 39. There were 14 in the central region, 19 in the eastern region, five in the northwest region and zero in the southwest region. 

Go here to see a map of the health planning regions. 

Sixty-five coronavirus tests were pending. 

The state’s social services commissioner urged families to keep children out of day care centers unless the parents are “essential personnel.” 

“We ask all the parents of the Commonwealth, that if you are not an essential personnel, that you stay home with your children, like we are doing with schools, to make available capacity for child care centers to provide the necessary care to essential personnel,” Commissioner Duke Storen said. 

Day care centers can expect additional guidance from the state, Storen said, including a rule limiting the total number of adults and children in a classroom to ten. Day care centers will be asked to comply voluntarily. 

The governor said he is assessing “on a day-to-day basis” whether to keep schools closed for longer than two weeks. 

Additionally, Northam said he would donate blood Wednesday and urged “all healthy Virginians” to do so as well. 

Virginia’s restaurants, gyms and theaters can now serve only 10 people at once, according to an emergency order Tuesday night from the governor. Earlier Tuesday, Gov. Ralph Northam had said the 10-person rule was only a recommendation. It now is required.

Northam sought to soothe Virginians. 

“This is a very stressful and concerning time for every Virginian. It is likely to remain so for some time. Please, please continue to practice preventative health measures such as washing your hands, and please maintain social distancing and avoid large gatherings,” he said. 

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story. 

All K-12 schools in Virginia will close for at least two weeks as officials try to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Schools will close Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27, at a minimum, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday afternoon.

“We are taking this action to keep Virginians as safe and healthy as possible, and to minimize exposure to COVID-19,” he said in a statement.

“I recognize this will pose a hardship on many families, but closing our schools for two weeks will not only give our staff time to clean and disinfect school facilities, it will help slow the spread of this virus,” he continued. “This is a fluid and fast-changing situation. We will do everything possible to ensure that students who rely on school nutrition programs continue to have access to meals, and that the disruption to academics is as minimal as possible.”

Education officials are working to ensure that students who qualify for free or reduced-cost meals are still able to get those meals.

The number of coronavirus cases in Virginia jumped to 30 on Friday, nearly doubling from the day before, state health officials announced.

As of Saturday afternoon, Washington, D.C., had 10 cases, Maryland had 26 and Virginia had 41. Go here to read what we know about the patients.

Seventeen people had tested positive for coronavirus in the state on Thursday. Patients’ results are first tested at Virginia labs, then presumptive positive cases are sent to the CDC for confirmation.

Fairfax County is the heaviest hit in Northern Virginia, now with six cases. Statewide, James City County, has the highest number of cases, seven.

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Eleven cities and counties have patients, including Arlington County, Loudoun County, Prince William County and the City of Alexandria.

Northam declared a state of emergency Thursday and said he was canceling all state conferences and large events for the next 30 days. He urged local governments and private organizers to follow suit. He also announced new restrictions on travel for state workers. 

Dr. Lilian Peake, the state epidemiologist, said there is so far no sign of “community spread” of the virus in Virginia.

The coronavirus has infected around 136,000 people worldwide and killed more than 5,000. For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for some, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people who contract it recover within weeks.

Prior to Northam’s decision to close all schools individual school districts struggled with the decision of whether to remain open. Virginia’s largest school system defended its decision to stay open during the coronavirus pandemic only to capitulate hours later in the face of angry parents, exemplifying the difficult decision schools faced throughout the state.

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand appeared at a news conference Thursday afternoon and defended the decision to stay open, even though neighboring Loudoun County and the entire state of Maryland, just across the Potomac River, announced plans for an extended closure.

By 8 p.m. Thursday, the superintendent emailed a note to all parents with a quote from the county’s health director supporting his decision to stay open. She noted that all of the cases in Virginia, so far, could be traced to international travel or direct exposure to someone with the virus. Maryland, on the other hand, had seen its first case of “community spread” in which a person had contracted the illness without such a direct connection.

“Schools serve an important and vital function in our community. Keeping schools open, whenever possible, is critical at this time,” said Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu. “If, and when, it is determined that our contact investigations show any connection to the school system, we would provide closure guidance and recommendations.”

Brabrand did, though, announce cessation of all after-school activities, sports, and community use of the schools through April 12.

But that wasn’t enough to appease worried parents. By midnight, Brabrand reversed course and closed schools Friday.

“During the past several hours we continue to hear genuine concerns from parents about keeping our schools open while the coronavirus response escalates around the country,” he wrote. “As a result, and in an abundance of caution, I believe it is prudent for FCPS to cancel school tomorrow to help ease parent, staff, and student anxiety.”

At one of the last events in the school system before the closures went into effect, bands at George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church performed a concert in front of a sparsely attended crowd of parents and family members, easily less than half the attendance for a normal concert. Parents remarked that the situation reminded them of the 2002 sniper spree in the nation’s capital area, when people refused to go out in public as a series of random sniper shootings claimed the lives of 10 people over a three-week span.

“Stay healthy. Stay safe,” band director Paul Vesilind told attendees as the concert concluded.

On Friday, Arlington, Falls Church and Alexandria City schools joined those closing.

A growing number of universities have suspended on-campus instruction, extended spring break, or both. Those include the University of Virginia, William & Mary, James Madison University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Longwood University, where a student tested positive for COVID-19.

Arlington National Cemetery closed to most visitors on Friday in response to the coronavirus pandemic, but said funerals will continue as scheduled.

The cemetery announced the move in a series of tweets, citing Defense Department directives and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. It said families arriving for funerals will be asked to remain in their cars while queuing up, and that the rest of the cemetery will be open only to family pass holders.

Stay with News4 for more on this developing story.

School officials, employers, event planners and government officials in D.C., Maryland and Virginia told people to stay home and isolate themselves as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the region hit 57 Thursday.

Public Gatherings, Cherry Blossom Festival Events Canceled

One of D.C.’s largest tourist and cultural events —which normally draws up to 1.5 million visitors — will scale back in light of the contagious virus. Two major events, the National Cherry Blossom Parade and Petalpalooza, are canceled this year.

The Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival and Anacostia River Festival have been postponed.

City leaders are also doing what they can to push social distancing efforts. D.C. revoked event permits for all pub crawls that were scheduled for Saturday, including The Shamrock Crawl, the St. Patrick’s Day Crawl and the Chase the Green Crawl.

D.C. also implemented a mandatory ban on gatherings of 250 people or more. For those in at-risk groups, the ban is 10 people or more.

“The spread of COVID-19 represents an imminent threat to the health, safety, and welfare of District residents that requires emergency protective actions to be undertaken by the District Government,” the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board said.

DC to Close Schools, Adopt Distance Learning

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Friday that D.C. Public Schools would close starting Monday, March 16, through the end of the month and implement distance learning. Teachers will report to work on Monday to plan distance learning. The school’s spring break in April was set to be canceled. Charter schools were encouraged to adopt similar measures.

During that same period, many D.C. government employees will operate under an agency-specific telework plan, Bowser said.

The city government will work to continue essential services, including giving meals to D.C. students. Here’s more on the city’s plan.

“Some government operations will be performed fully remotely, while other services will continue to be performed at public buildings, but under modified operations,” Bowser said.

Safety measures are expected to further punctuate daily routines and normal life as officials respond to rapidly changing conditions.

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Maryland, Virginia School Closures

Maryland adopted “extraordinary measures” on Thursday, including banning gatherings of 250 or more people and preparing to close schools.

More than 800,000 Maryland students are expected in seats Friday, before schools statewide close through March 27 for cleaning and protective measures.

Tens of thousands of students are already staying home on Friday or preparing to stay home on Monday. Loudoun County Schools, with more than 80,000 students, plan to close Friday and reopen Monday, March 23.

Here’s a full list of closures and delays.

Social Distancing Encouraged

Federal agencies have been directed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to review telework, sick leave and other human resource policies. Some private employers in the D.C. area have asked employees to start working from home when possible.

D.C. Superior Court will change operations to postpone non-urgent business or conduct it remotely. The number of jurors required to report to court will be kept to a minimum. Details of the changes will be posted Monday morning.

The D.C. Court of Appeals is encouraging e-filing and livestreaming oral arguments. The court is suspending the filing of paper copies of e-filed documents beginning March 16.

Maryland state courts will be closed to the public for three weeks beginning March 16.

Employees are to report to work, and the courts will be staffed to handle emergencies like domestic violence petitions, bail reviews, juvenile detention and shelter hearings, and search warrants. Judges can use remote electronic means when possible.

The goal of social distancing measures is to slow virus transmission as to not overload hospitals.

Headed into the weekend, health officials urged people to distance themselves in hopes of preventing exposure to germs. Some grocery stores in the D.C. area and online retailers ran out of staple pantry items and toilet paper as customers stocked up amid uncertainty.

Even the Smithsonian museums, the National Zoo, Arlington National Cemetery and the Blue Line Metro stop that serves it will close.

Most cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, only present mild symptoms. Older people, especially those with underlying health conditions, appear to be most at risk of more severe respiratory symptoms or pneumonia.

Stay with NBC Washington and News4 for breaking news and developments during the coronavirus outbreak. If you have a news tip, email tips@nbcwashington.com.

“Our top priority is to make sure Virginians stay safe and healthy, and that our response to this situation leaves no one behind,” the governor said at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

“From our health department, to our schools, to our hospitals, to our transit systems, Virginia’s agencies and institutions have been thoroughly planning for every scenario,” he continued. “This emergency declaration will ensure we can continue to prepare for and appropriately respond to Virginians’ needs during this time.”

Virginia joins D.C. and Maryland in making an emergency declaration.

Northam made multiple recommendations that affect people statewide.

He advised all Virginians to avoid large gatherings “for the time being.” He said he was canceling all state conferences and large events for the next 30 days and urged local governments and private organizers to follow suit. He also announced new restrictions on travel for state workers.

“The situation is fluid, and it is changing rapidly,” the governor said.

Anyone who lives in a nursing home and has symptoms gets top priority for immediate testing. Additionally, Virginia is working with insurers to waive copays related to the coronavirus.

Northam said he is watching how other states are handling COVID-19 testing and that drive-thru testing may be an option.

Here’s the latest info on the 39 people in D.C., Maryland and Virginia who had been diagnosed with the virus as of Thursday afternoon.

Stay with News4 for more details on this developing story.

The closure will last from Thursday, March 12 through Friday, March 20, school officials announced early Thursday.

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All activities are also canceled.

“Loudoun County has not experienced the extent of presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 as some other areas within our nation or globally and has not had cases that meet the definition of community transmission, we are making this decision out of an abundance of caution. We plan to announce next steps by the end of next week,” a letter from Superintendent Eric Williams said.

On Wednesday evening, Loudoun County schools said they would close for just one day to allow teachers time to prepare for possible future online coursework. But administrators changed course early Thursday morning, throwing off some parents.

Williams apologized for the late notice on Thursday morning. He said school officials will use the time to develop actionable guidelines to keep students safe if or when they return to class.

One Loudoun County resident in their 40s tested positive for the novel coronavirus after attending Christ Church in Georgetown, officials earlier said.

The district is unaware of anyone considered a presumptive positive who has a connection to schools, but buildings will be thoroughly cleaned before reopening, officials said.

School officials said they would later provide updates about how to help students who rely on school meals and about the possibility of online learning if the closure is extended.

Administration officers will open at noon Thursday and open for regular office hours during the rest of the closure. Williams said the school would give continued updates during the closure.

“We are also developing guidance to principals and teachers regarding potential distance learning options and expectations in the event that the closure is extended,” the school said.

The school’s spring break is scheduled for April. Officials haven’t announced any calendar changes at this point.

This is the first district-wide school closure of this length in the D.C. area. D.C. and Fairfax County public schools are set to close Monday so teachers can prepare for the possibility of online or distance learning. Here’s more on what’s been delayed, canceled or postponed because of the outbreak.

The patient is doing well and recovering at home, the Alexandria Health Department confirmed.

Officials believe the case was spread when the Alexandria resident met another patient who lives in D.C. at the Immanuel Chapel of the Virginia Theological Seminary, which describes itself as the flagship seminary of the Episcopal Church. Health officials have contacted several people who may have been exposed there.

Church officials said a D.C. patient, an organist at Christ Church Georgetown, played at the chapel and attended another event there. Anyone who visited Immanuel Chapel from February 26 to March 4 is asked to self-quarantine and monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days. Several people voluntarily isolated themselves upon learning the news.

It’s the latest positive coronavirus test result linked back to the local Episcopal faith community. A Loudoun County resident and a D.C. woman had contacts with people in the Christ Church or Immanuel Chapel community.

In response, the Episcopal Diocese of Washington has closed the National Cathedral and hundreds of other churches in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

A rector at Christ Church in Georgetown, who was D.C.’s first confirmed case of coronavirus, said he continues to recover and apologized for the disruptions.

“I am very sorry for all the disruption you have had to ensure as a result of this,” he said.

The latest patient lives in the Ashland area and was diagnosed after traveling internationally.

Virginia has not declared a state of emergency but Northam said he would do so if necessary. Lawmakers are set to vote Thursday on funding for the response.

“Together we can get through this, and we will,” Northam said at a news conference in Richmond.

The state is making plans for state employees to potentially telework. School districts are being asked to report attendance data to the health department so any illness can be monitored.

The state health lab has enough coronavirus test kits for 300 to 400 patients as of Wednesday and is expected to have 500 to 600 kits soon. A representative said they requested the maximum number from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The patients include a U.S. Marine who is assigned to Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County and lives at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Prince William County, two Fairfax City residents, an Arlington resident, a Spotsylvania County resident in his 50s and a Loudoun County resident in their 40s.

The Marine “recently returned from overseas, where he was on official business,” the Pentagon said in a statement. He started showing symptoms on Feb. 14 and returned to the U.S. several days later.

One of the Fairfax City residents to test positive is a man in his 80s who went on a Nile River cruise and began to develop symptoms on Feb. 28, officials said. He was hospitalized March 5. His spouse later tested positive.

The Arlington patient is in their 60s and “developed fever, cough and shortness of breath after having returned from international travel,” the state health department said.

A Loudoun County resident in their 40s tested positive after “attending Christ Church Georgetown,” the county announced. A rector and organist at the D.C. church previously tested positive.

“The positive test result is considered a presumptive positive, pending confirmatory testing by CDC. The patient is currently doing well and is isolated at home,” the county said.

Additionally, health officials urged congregants and visitors to the Immanuel Chapel of the Virginia Theological Seminary to monitor themselves for symptoms after a D.C. resident with the virus spent time there.

The Commonwealth was monitoring dozens of people for coronavirus-related health concerns.

Officials urged residents to be careful about hand-washing

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.

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The patient is in their 60s and “developed fever, cough and shortness of breath after having returned from international travel,” the state health department said in a statement.

Officials from the state and county are working to determine if any “close contacts” of the resident need testing or to be monitored. The larger risk to Arlington is low, officials said.

“The individual had limited contact with others while ill and the risk to the general Arlington community remains low,” the statement said.

Two other people in Virginia have been diagnosed with coronavirus: a U.S. Marine who is assigned to Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County and lives at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Prince William County, and a Fairfax City resident.

The Marine “recently returned from overseas, where he was on official business,” the Pentagon said in a statement Saturday evening. He started showing symptoms on Feb. 14 and returned to the U.S. several days later.

The Fairfax City resident is a man in his 80s who went on a Nile River cruise and began to develop symptoms on Feb. 28, officials said Sunday. He was hospitalized March 5.

Here are the latest numbers on cases in the D.C. area.

Officials say basic precautionary measures are the best way to prevent the spread of disease. Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds, cough and sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue, and stay home if you’re sick.

Stay with News4 for more on this developing story

Officials announced the second case in the state on Sunday morning. The first was a U.S. Marine at Fort Belvoir in Northern Virginia.

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The second patient is a man in his 80s who traveled on a similar Nile river cruise as other coronavirus patients who live in Montgomery County, Maryland.

The patient began to develop respiratory symptoms Feb. 28, state health officials said. He was hospitalized March 5 and remains in stable condition, health officials said.

The man had limited contact after developing symptoms, health officials said. Health officials are coordinating to determine who he may have had contact with and say they will work with people who may have been exposed.

There are no known exposures of school-age children, officials said.

This is one of eight cases in the Washington, D.C., area. Here are the latest numbers.

A Loudoun County firefighter self-quarantined after having contact with someone outside the county who later tested positive for the coronavirus. The firefighter has no symptoms.

Health officials said they are working around the clock to limit the impact of the disease. So far, there is a low risk to the community as both patients appear to have contracted the virus while traveling.

Virginia state labs have two kits, each of which can test between 150 to 200 potential patients, said Dr. Denise Toney, director of the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, the State Laboratory for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Officials say basic precautionary measures are the best way to prevent the spread of disease. Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds, cough and sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue and stay home if you are sick.

Stay with News4 for more on this developing story