Virginia Department of Health said another man who contracted the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus died.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Virginia Department of Health said Monday that a second person who lived in the Peninsula Health District and had COVID-19 died from the virus.

VDH said the patient was a man in his 70s who contracted coronavirus through an unknown source.

The report of the death came two days after health officials said someone else died in the district. That person, who lived in James City County, also was in his 70s. He was the first person to die in the Peninsula Health District and the first person to die in Virginia as a result of COVID-19.

The health department did not say where the second patient lived.

“It is a sad day in our community as we learn that a local resident has died from COVID-19. Our hearts go out to his family and friends. We will continue to work toward a day where no one dies from this virus,” said Peninsula Health Department Acting Director Dr. Steve Julian, MD, MBA, FACS. “The Hampton/Peninsula Health District is working closely with our community healthcare partners to assure the best care in response to the Pandemic.”

Dr. Julian said the health department and hospitals are working closely together, and there is a lot of work happening behind the scenes.

"We have a team of epidemiologists who are tracking every case that has been identified," Dr. Julian said. "Making sure we contact all patients that they have come in contact with."

He said the community needs to pull back from their normal lifestyles in order to lower the rise of cases.

"To be very concrete about it, no shaking hands," Dr. Julian said. "Try to keep your distance, social distancing. These types of actions are a bit foreign to us in our culture, but I think they are necessary."

The Peninsula Health Department set up a call center. The number is 757-594-7069. It is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.