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Northam confirms Northern Virginia likely to be excluded from initial reopening Northam confirms Northern Virginia likely to be excluded from initial reopening
(about 2 hours later)
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Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam confirmed Monday that he expects to hold Northern Virginia out of the gradual phase one reopening of the rest of the state later this week, noting that more than 70 percent of new covid-19 cases in the state are now coming from the populous D.C. suburbs. Gov. Ralph Northam confirmed Monday that he expects to hold Northern Virginia out of the gradual, “phase one” reopening of the rest of the state later this week, describing a state starkly cleaved in two by the novel coronavirus.
Northam had asked leaders from Northern Virginia to send him a formal request to maintain the tighter restrictions, and that he received the letter over the weekend from a group including Alexandria and the counties of Fairfax, Arlington, Prince William and Loudoun. Of nearly 1,000 new coronavirus infections reported in the state on Monday, almost three-quarters of them were clustered in the District suburbs, Northam said.
On Monday, the state announced 989 new coronavirus infections, 719 of them clustered in the suburbs bordering the District. So were all but one of the state’s 11 newly reported covid-19 deaths.
Northam (D) had asked Northern Virginia leaders to send him a formal request to maintain the tighter restrictions. He received the letter over the weekend from a group including officials from Alexandria and the counties of Fairfax, Arlington, Prince William and Loudoun.
“We feel that we’re in a place where we can safely go into phase one in most areas of Virginia — obviously Northern Virginia is the exception,” Northam said. “The metrics look a bit different in Northern Virginia than they do in the rest of the state.”“We feel that we’re in a place where we can safely go into phase one in most areas of Virginia — obviously Northern Virginia is the exception,” Northam said. “The metrics look a bit different in Northern Virginia than they do in the rest of the state.”
The governor said he is reassured that the percentage of new infections is trending downward for the rest of the state even as Virginia ramps up higher levels of testing, reaching 9,800 tests given Sunday on the way to a daily goal of 10,000. Northam’s offer to let the D.C.-area suburbs reopen more slowly is an attempt to satisfy forces pulling in opposite directions.
There were some other hopeful signs in the District, Maryland and Virginia as well.
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The three jurisdictions collectively reported 55 covid-19 deaths on Monday, one more than Sunday but the second lowest tally in two weeks. A total of 2,861 people have died from the disease in the region so far. Republicans in rural parts of the state have argued that their areas are not as affected by the pandemic, and merchants in some tourist-heavy regions — such as Hampton Roads — say their economies will be wrecked if they can’t start reopening as summer approaches.
There were 1,892 new covid-19 infections, bringing the total for the greater Washington region to 64,832. But dense Northern Virginia reacted with alarm last week when Northam suggested he might move toward easing restrictions.
Virginia reported 11 new fatalities, continuing a three-day streak of decreasing deaths per day. A similar split has developed in Maryland, where cases are also concentrated in the D.C. suburbs.
The state’s 989 new infections was the,second-highest reported on a single day since the pandemic began, raising its case count past 25,000. Northam said the uptick was due in part to an increase in testing. While Republicans in more rural areas have decried the strict shutdown orders of Gov. Larry Hogan (R), the Democratic leaders of hard-hit Prince George’s and Montgomery counties have already said they won’t be part of any reopening Hogan may order in coming days.
The percent of positive tests — an important metric as states consider reopening — has declined from its peak of 22 percent in mid April to about 15 percent, according to charts Northam presented. Average hospitalizations in the state continued to decline slightly. Northam’s efforts to strike a balance only drew more criticism from Republicans Monday.
About a quarter of all tests administered in Northern Virginia come back positive, Northam said, versus a 10 percent positivity rate in the rest of the state. Hospitalization rates are higher in Northern Virginia as well. “We have called for a regional approach to reopening for weeks, and it seems we are being held up due to northern Virginia,” Del. Terry Kilgore (R-Scott), from far Southwest Virginia, said in an emailed statement. “While Northern Virginia has [its] concerns with reopening, the ‘Rest of Virginia’ as the Governor and his chief of staff referred to us are willing and able to safely begin that process.”
As Democrats take power in Richmond, growing divide between Northern Virginia and the rest of the state
Northam has insisted that he is motivated only by health data and not politics. On Monday he cited statistics showing that Northern Virginia actually is experiencing the pandemic differently than the rest of the state.
The governor said he is reassured that the percentage of new infections is trending downward for the rest of the state even as Virginia ramps up higher levels of testing. On Sunday, 9,800 tests were administered, close to the daily goal of 10,000.
The District, Maryland and Virginia collectively reported 55 covid-19 deaths on Monday, one more than Sunday but the second lowest tally in two weeks. A total of 2,861 people have died from the disease in the region so far.
There were 1,892 new covid-19 infections, bringing the total for the greater Washington region to 64,832.
The 11 new fatalities in Virginia continued a three-day decline.
The state’s 989 new infections was the second-highest reported on a single day since the pandemic began, raising its case count past 25,000. Officials said the uptick was due in part to an increase in testing, particularly on the Eastern Shore, where outbreaks linked to poultry plants have been a problem.
The percent of positive tests — an important metric as states consider reopening — has declined from its peak of 22 percent in mid April to about 15 percent, according to charts Northam presented. Covid hospitalizations in the state continued to decline slightly.
About a quarter of all tests administered in Northern Virginia come back positive, Northam said, versus a much lower 10 percent positivity rate in the rest of the state.
Hospitalization rates are higher in Northern Virginia as well.
Weeks into the shutdown, here’s why so many are still getting sickWeeks into the shutdown, here’s why so many are still getting sick
In Maryland, where Gov. Larry Hogan relaxed some restrictions last week, there were 786 new cases Monday, the lowest number in five days. The number of hospitalized patients declined to 1,544 on Monday, continuing a five-day decline. In Maryland, where Hogan relaxed some restrictions last week and said he would consider a phase-one reopening this week, there were 786 new cases Monday, the lowest number in five days. The number of hospitalized patients declined for the fifth straight day, to 1,544.
But the state recorded 39 new deaths — nine more than a day earlier — including six each in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and one in Wicomico County, where a poultry plant has sustained a significant outbreak of the virus. And the percent of total tests that have come back positive rose over the past week, from 19 to 20 percent. But the state recorded 39 new deaths — nine more than a day earlier — including six each in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and one in Wicomico County, where a poultry plant has sustained a significant outbreak of the virus. The percent of tests that have come back positive remained steady over the past week, at around 20 percent.
The District reported 117 new coronavirus cases and five deaths Monday, tied for the lowest number of fatalities in the capital in more than three weeks (in general, reporting of deaths in all three jurisdictions tends to be lowest on Sundays and Mondays). The capital’s cumulative positivity rate is just shy of 22 percent and has been declining slightly.The District reported 117 new coronavirus cases and five deaths Monday, tied for the lowest number of fatalities in the capital in more than three weeks (in general, reporting of deaths in all three jurisdictions tends to be lowest on Sundays and Mondays). The capital’s cumulative positivity rate is just shy of 22 percent and has been declining slightly.
D.C. officials on Monday unveiled a new makeshift hospital overflow center at the downtown Walter E. Washington Convention Center that will be able to treat nearly 500 covid-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms, preserving hospital space for those who need to be in intensive care or on ventilators. See the Md. and Virginia counties with the most coronavirus cases
The convention center hall that just months ago featured high-end cars for the annual auto show has been converted to a medical surge site with stand-alone rooms with beds, tablets and local artwork prints on the walls, open-air nurses stations and shower facilities. D.C. officials unveiled a makeshift hospital overflow center at the downtown Walter E. Washington Convention Center that will be able to treat nearly 500 covid-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms, preserving hospital space for those who need to be in intensive care or on ventilators.
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) called the facility, which was a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the city’s “insurance policy” against a potential surge of cases that has yet to come. City hospitals have about 2,500 beds, but have been using fewer than 2,000 after canceling elective procedures and with social distancing measures that have resulted in fewer coronavirus infections than expected. The convention center hall that just months ago featured high-end cars for the annual auto show is now filled with stand-alone rooms with beds, tablets and local artwork prints on the walls, open-air nurses stations and shower facilities.
Hospitals have nevertheless added another 1,000 beds their campuses, in addition to the convention center setup. D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) called the joint project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the city’s “insurance policy” against a potential surge of cases. The city has plenty of hospital beds available, after covid-19 hospitalizations peaked at 477 in late April and have since trended downward.
New data released Monday by city health officials show covid-19 hospitalizations peaking at 477 in late April and trending downward since then. The cancellation of elective procedures also has freed up beds.
The convention center, staffed by personnel fromo MedStar Health, would be used as a last resort if cases surge and peak later this month, and hospitals are overwhelmed and need to shift to treating the most sick. Officials said it cost about $50 million to set up the convention center site and six treatment pods at the publicly owned United Medical Center hospital. With no conventions planned at the center in the near future, Bowser said the city will use the overflow center “as long as we need it.”
Officials said it cost about $50 million to set up the convention center and six treatment pods at the publicly owned United Medical Center hospital. With no conventions planned at the center in the near future, Bowser said the city will use the overflow center “as long as we need it.” The Bowser administration said it has hired the first 17 of what it hopes will be 700 new contact tracers, who will track new infections and reach out to people potentially exposed to the virus, encouraging them to quarantine or be tested. The mayor has drawn out more than $2 million from reserves for the effort.
In Virginia, officials said they are building a staff of more than 1,000 contact tracers to investigate anyone who an infected person once restrictions begin to lift. Short on staff, masks and testing: How covid-19 spread through Maryland nursing homes
People who have been exposed to the coronavirus would then be urged to isolate until they can learn if they have been infected as well. In Virginia, officials said they are building a staff of more than 1,000 contact tracers.
The state now has about 600 contact tracers available — enough for the state as a whole if Northern Virginia is held out of the reopening slated to begin on Friday, said Clark Mercer, Northam’s chief of staff. The state has about 600 available now — enough for the state as a whole if Northern Virginia is held out of the reopening slated to begin on Friday, said Clark Mercer, Northam’s chief of staff.
Northam said he would urge people from Northern Virginia not to travel into the rest of the state after Friday, to avoid bringing the infection with them. Such a recommendation would not be mandatory, he added.Northam said he would urge people from Northern Virginia not to travel into the rest of the state after Friday, to avoid bringing the infection with them. Such a recommendation would not be mandatory, he added.
“We’re not restricting them from traveling elsewhere,” Northam said. “We would certainly encourage them to maintain the same guidelines we’ve been taking all along,” such as staying at home, washing hands and social distancing. Phyllis Randall, the chair of Loudoun County’s Board of Supervisors, acknowledged that the county can’t stop residents from venturing to a reopened bar or restaurant in nearby Fauquier or Warren counties — even though those residents could take the virus there with them.
He said Virginia has been working closely with Maryland and the District to keep policies consistent. “That whole area is so dense, they’re all kind of sharing the same challenges that we are. A lot of that went into the decision-making,” Northam said. Loudoun officials have worked to get residents to understand the hazard that still exists in the region and why the county has joined the other Washington suburbs in keeping the shutdown restrictions in place, Randall (D) said.
His plan for reopening drew criticism from some business leaders, however. “People will do what they feel is right for themselves and their families and they have every right to do that,” she said. “I just need to follow the advice of the health directors and that’s all I can really do.”
In a letter to the governor, the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association said it was “troubled” by his decision to only allow outdoor dining as part of the Phase 1 reopening set to begin on Friday. Northam said Virginia has been working closely with Maryland and the District to keep policies consistent. “That whole area is so dense, they’re all kind of sharing the same challenges that we are. A lot of that went into the decision-making,” he said.
“Virginia restaurants who do not currently offer outdoor dining are certainly the ‘losers’ in the first phase of reopening,” according to the letter, which also criticized his decision not to reopen the state’s beaches. His plan for reopening continued to draw criticism from some business leaders, with the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association said it was “troubled” by his decision to only allow outdoor dining at first.
Rebecca Tan contributed to this report. “Virginia restaurants who do not currently offer outdoor dining are certainly the ‘losers’ in the first phase of reopening,” said a letter from the association, which also criticized his decision not to reopen the state’s beaches.
gregory.schneider@washpost.com Antonio Olivo and Rebecca Tan contributed to this report.
fenit.nirappil@washpost.com
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