Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Gov. Ralph Northam warned over the weekend that if COVID-19 cases keep rising, he may take further actions to decrease the spread.

“We will be watching the public health data closely over the weekend –– if the numbers don’t come down, we may have to take additional steps to blunt the spread of this virus,” Northam said. “Wear a mask and practice physical distancing, so we don’t have to move back.”

Northam announced new restrictions in his Tuesday afternoon news conference for the Hampton Roads area but said the rest of the state would remain in Phase 3.

Charlotte County has seen a rise in cases that prompted the school system to abandon its opening plan of students returning to in-school instruction two days a week.

Over eight days from July 20 to July 28, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reported nine new COVID-19 cases in the county, bringing the total to 48.

According to VDH data, as of Tuesday, July 28, there remains five hospitalizations and no deaths in the county.

Despite the rise in cases, Charlotte County still remains the lowest in case count compared to all surrounding counties.

Halifax is reporting 126 positive cases, Mecklenburg 297, Lunenburg 52, Appomattox 63, Prince Edward 284 and Campbell County 121.

Statewide, VDH is reporting 86,995 positive cases, 7,686 hospitalizations and 2,095 deaths.

Long term health care facilities are listed has those with the highest cases.

Nationwide 4.3 million have been infected with the virus and 2.1 million have recovered as of July 28 with more than 150,000 people dead from the virus.