- Here in Central Virginiagovernment leaders

are taking a regional approach

where the coronavirus in concerned.

Dr. Danny Avula servesas public health director

for the city of Richmond andneighboring Henrico County.

He says COVID-19's elusive nature

makes it difficult to spot and stop.

- One of the challenges isthat when 80-plus percent

of individuals who getthe virus have really

kind of indistinguishable cold symptoms

they can transmit the virus to people

who are much more susceptible to it

without really knowing it.

- [Eric] That alone,he adds, significantly

increases chances the diseasespreads to this community.

- I'm very, very concerned.- Why?

- 'Cause people don't knowhow to cover their mouth.

- I am scared for more olderpeople and younger people

but not necessarily for myself.

- [Eric] Hoping toaddress growing concerns,

health and emergencymanagement leaders here

have activated an incidentmanagement team for the region.

- And so now instead of each locality

having to make theirown kind of best guesses

or decisions based onthe information they have

that will all be streamlined

through a regional infrastructure.

The decisions that we make collectively

about whether to hold a basketball game,

you know, that affects not just the people

in one locality, but doeshave regional implications.

- [Eric] That also includesdecisions like closing schools,

businesses, or even advisingchurches to cancel service.

- I mean, if we're havingwidespread transmission

and we're starting to seedeaths here in Virginia,

and again, I fully expectall of those things to happen

then I think there will be clear guidance

to faith communities andcongregations to say, you know,

maybe we do a web service this week

or for this period of time.

We probably do need to make changes

in the way that we'redelivering Communion.

- So I think the church hasan opportunity here really

to show that it willpractice its faith over fear.

- [Eric] Richmond CommunityChurch Senior Pastor

Rick McDaniel say he doesn'tforesee canceling any services.

- I think we would always have church.

We would always have thedoors of the church open.

We'd always have services and then people

would have to make up their own decisions

about whether they wanna come or not.

- Now states have the abilityto test locally for COVID-19

rather than having to sendsamples to the CDC in Atlanta.

Still, Avula says, the availabilityof test kits is limited

and the required criteria for testing

means cases will slip through the cracks.

Health officials stresspeople should not panic

but they should remain vigilant realizing

that curbing everyday socialnorms like shaking hands

may be the safest idea.

In Richmond, Virginia,Eric Philips, CBN News.