Ralph Northam: Virginia governor tests positive for coronavirus hours before Trump visit

Democrat entering isolation as Donald Trump due in Newport News for campaign rally

Democrat entering isolation as Donald Trump due in Newport News for campaign rally (AP)

Virginia’s Democraric governor Ralph Northam has tested positive for the coronoavirus, along with his wife, just hours before a controversial Donald Trump rally in the state.

The governor’s office said in a statement on Friday that Mr Northam is showing no symptoms while those of Pam Northam are mild.

Both plan on isolating for the next 10 days while working remotely, it was announced, as the US president heads to the state on Friday evening.

The governor and first lady were notified on Wednesday that a member of the Executive Mansion staff also had tested positive for the virus.

Taking to Twitter, Mr Northam wrote: "On Wednesday evening, @FirstLadyVA and I were notified that a member of our official residence staff had developed symptoms and tested positive for #COVID19. We both received PCR nasal swab tests yesterday and both tested positive."

Explaining that he was asymptotic but isolating, he added that he was "in constant contact with my cabinet and staff, and will continue working from the Executive Mansion."

"As I have been reminding Virginians throughout this crisis, #COVID19 is very real and very contagious. We are grateful for your thoughts and support, but the best thing you can do for us—and most importantly, for your fellow Virginians—is to take this virus seriously," Mr Northam wrote.

The Democratic leader is the country’s only governor who is also a doctor, leading to criticism from some Republicans over coronavirus measures that they argue are  too stringent.

President Trump will arrive in Virginia this evening, where is set to hold another campaign rally in Newport News, despite concerns from health officials around the risk from coronavirus.