Update at 4:45 p.m., Sunday, March 22:

Late Sunday morning, the Virginia Department of Health reported 219 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, with three deaths. VDH reported 24 coronavirus cases in the Richmond region, including eight in Chesterfield.

Update at 12:15 p.m., Saturday, March 21:

The Virginia Department of Health reported on Saturday morning that there are now 152 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, including 7 confirmed cases in Chesterfield.

Original article published at 6:13 p.m. on Thursday, March 19:

On a conference call with reporters early Thursday evening, Chesterfield Health District Director Dr. Alexander Samuel said there are now six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county. There are 94 total confirmed cases in Virginia, and two deaths from the coronavirus, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

The update included information on the two most recent coronavirus cases in Chesterfield: a woman in her 50s who did not require hospitalization and was currently at home; and a man in his 50s who is currently hospitalized. Stating that investigations were ongoing, Samuel said the source of transmission was unknown for all six cases in the county.

“We are seeing evidence of community spread,” Samuel said. “So far, to my knowledge, no links have been established.”

Asked about where these cases were located in Chesterfield, county spokeswoman Susan Pollard said Virginia Department of Health policy did not allow that information to be publicly disclosed.

Samuel said he didn’t have real-time updates for the previous four cases in Chesterfield.

“My understanding is that most of those individuals were at home,” he said. “Two were hospitalized. One who was hospitalized I believe is being discharged soon. The other one [has] improved, but still is at the hospital.”

Asked about concerns over lack of testing for COVID-19, Samuel said that the health department has “never been in the position to give tests,” and that testing would be conducted by local medical providers.

“The supply of tests does not meet the demands. My understanding is, however, that is improving with time,” he said, adding that those who suspect they have symptoms of COVID-19 contact their primary care physician. “The best advice that I can give individuals is to continue to work with primary care physicians and make clear your situation.”

Noting that there isn’t currently a vaccine for the virus and there’s no treatment for people who have COVID-19, Samuel stressed the need to continue social distancing tactics, including teleworking.

“It is critical that the general public heed these sorts of procedures to reduce the spread of the virus,” he said. “At the moment … that is really the only measure at our disposal.”