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NATCHEZ — Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell confirmed Wednesday morning that he tested negative for the COVID-19 virus.

Grennell said he tested for the COVID-19 virus on Monday, March 16, and has spent a total of nine days awaiting his test results.

During that time, Grennell said he has been under self-quarantine at home while conducting city business over the phone and online.

Grennell said he went to the doctor on Monday, March 16, after he developed flu-like symptoms following recent travel to Washington, D.C., and New Orleans, two areas in the country that have become high-risk centers for COVID-19.

Although Grennell tested positive for the flu, doctors tested the mayor for COVID-19 because of his recent travel and symptoms.

Grennell said he is strongly urging residents to stay home during the COVID-19 crisis and will be signing a stay-at-home order today.

“The turnaround rate for getting test results back is extremely slow,” Grennell said in a regularly scheduled meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen Tuesday that was hosted via teleconference.

“We have 50 tests out there that we don’t even know the results of. … With this disease, you can’t be reactive, because by then it’s too late. You have to be proactive,” Grennell said.