State Senator Ben Chafin Jr. of Virginia died on Jan. 1 at the age of 60 after contracting the infectious and deadly COVID-19.  

Death
(Photo : Unsplash/Fey Marin)

The first day of 2021 was a sad day for people living in Virginia as they lost Chafin from COVID-19 complications. 

After contracting the virus, the lawmaker has been hospitalized at the VCU Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, where he was treated and given medical attention, but to no avail. The senator is survived by his wife and three children. 

Read: California Reports First Case of New COVID-19 Strain 

Virginia Senator Dies From COVID-19

The deadly COVID-19 continues to claim millions of lives across the country, including prominent persons like Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin Jr., according to a published article in WRAL.com.

A statement released by his office confirmed the lawmaker's death.

"State Senator Augustus Benton (Ben) Chafin, Jr., a native son of Russell County located in Southwest Virginia, passed away on January 1, 2021, from Covid-19 complications," the statement read.

The Republican lawmaker's family thanked all the healthcare workers at the VCU Medical Center for "its vigorous care and heartfelt support during his two weeks of medical services there." 

Chafin will always be remembered in Virginia because of his milestone as a lawmaker. 

Chafin, a lawyer and a cattle farmer, served Virginia's 38th District before elected to the state's House of Delegates in 2013. In 2014, he was elected to the state Senate.

Read also: CBP, ICE Report Thousands of Border Arrests and Seizures 

State of Virginia Honors Sen. Ben Chafin Jr. 

Chafin's office honored him and described him as "a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, economic development and health care coverage for hundreds of thousands of low-income Virginians." These are just a few of his significant contributions to the state and for the Virginians. 

His office added that "he advocated jobs in his district, particularly in the coalfields where the decline of coal has devastated local economies."

Virginia Democratic Governor Ralph Northam ordered Friday the state flag atop Virginia's Capitol to fly at half-staff until the senator's internment.

In a statement, Northam said: "I knew Ben as a lawmaker, an attorney, a banker, and a farmer raising beef cattle in Moccasin Valley, working the land just as generations of his family had done before him."

The governor noted that Chafin "loved the outdoors" and serving people. 

"He pushed hard to bring jobs and investment to his district, and I will always be grateful for his courageous vote to expand health care for people who need it," he added.

The state governor said losing a kind and gracious man like Chafin was sad news to begin the new year. While saying this, Northam reminded everyone to take extra steps in taking good care of each other against the COVID-19. 

California Congressman tests positive for COVID-19

Meanwhile, California Congressman David Valadao announced Saturday that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

The lawmaker, who represents the 21st District of California, noted that he received a rapid antigen COVID-19 test on Friday afternoon that returned a positive result.

Valadao tweeted that he will work and quarantine from his Hanford home in the meantime.