JAMES CITY Co., Va. - As of Tuesday morning, James City County has seen 89 confirmed cases of COVID-19. That's the most in the region.
"We continue to have a high case count in James City County. That continues to be concerning to us. I believe the social distancing we're practicing should help with that," said County Administrator Scott Stevens.
A few weeks ago, health officials traced the higher number of cases in the county to a couple who had been traveling and in groups. Now, with higher numbers, it's harder to determine where all the cases originated.
"That information is becoming harder and harder to come by as the case count grows and they're having to track more and more people," said Stevens.
As Gov. Northam has issued a "stay at home" order, people continue to go to parks in the county. County officials say that's fine as long as people keep their distance.
"There is increased use in our parks, and I think the mental health of our communities is important," said Stevens. "People need an outlet, so as long as we can maintain the parks in a safe fashion, we'll continue to do that."
Right now, Bush Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg are shut down. The closure of the tourist draws is expected to have a negative impact on the budget. "The question is how much? And for how long? That is really the unknown for all localities," said Stevens.
As like many local governments, there's a lot of uncertainty about the virus. "I hope that recovery is quick. I just don't know when that recovery will begin."
