US Marine contracts coronavirus in Virginia, the first case in the state

A U.S. marine in Fort Belvoir, Va., tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, Virginia health officials announced Saturday.

According to Department of Defense spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman, the patient is currently being treated at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. 

“The Marine recently returned from overseas where he was on official business. Secretary Esper and the White House have been briefed,” Hoffman tweeted.

A U.S Marine assigned to Fort Belvoir, VA tested positive today for COVID-19 and is currently being treated at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. The Marine recently returned from overseas where he was on official business. Secretary Esper and the White House have been briefed.

— Jonathan Rath Hoffman (@ChiefPentSpox) March 7, 2020

The marine is the first service member serving domestically to contract the virus.

Shortly after the confirmed case was announced, Democratic Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mike Warner weighed in on the situation. 

“We are carefully monitoring the coronavirus case announced in Virginia today and are committed to doing everything we can to ensure the Commonwealth is getting the federal support it needs to respond,” the senators said in a joint statement.

A Marine at Fort Belvoir in VIRGINIA has tested positive for the coronavirus.

There are now coronavirus cases in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.: pic.twitter.com/kNDL0Qw2P7

— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) March 8, 2020

The case comes amid news of confirmed presumptive cases in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding area. Saturday morning, the American Conservative Union (ACU) announced an attendee of their annual conference tested positive for the virus as well.