Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, according to his office.
In a press release, the mayor said was notified of the positive test result Wednesday morning, after he began showing mild symptoms on Monday. His symptoms remain mild.
“While I do not feel 100 percent, I am thankful that my symptoms are currently manageable and will continue to work from my home to ensure the continuity of city government,” the mayor said in a statement.
Due to his diagnosis, the State of the City Address has been postponed. The yearly address, which was originally scheduled for Thursday, will now take place virtually on Feb. 11.
The mayor is now isolating at home, and people who were possibly exposed have been contacted. The press release says those individuals are quarantining and taking the necessary precautions to keep themselves and those around them protected and healthy.
“As my personal experience should tell you, while there is reason to be hopeful due to the distribution of the vaccine, this pandemic is still far from over and must be taken seriously,” Stoney said.
12,321 people in the City of Richmond have contracted COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the latest numbers from the Virginia Department of Health. The majority of these cases, about 30%, have been among people aged 20 to 29.
This is a developing story. Check back with VPM News later for more updates.
