VA Coronavirus: Governor Calls For More Doctors, Blasts Falwell

VIRGINIA — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued a call Wednesday for health care professionals and medical students to volunteer to help meet the demand for workers in health care facilities across the state during the coronavirus crisis. Northam's call came as the death toll from the coronavirus in Virginia climbed to 12.

Speaking at his daily coronavirus news briefing, Northam also criticized Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. for inviting students to return to the school, located in Lynchburg.

With the growing number of positive tests for coronavirus cases, Northam said the state needs an "all-hands-on-deck" approach for treating the sick. "We are exploring ways to make it easier for qualified medical professionals to help out. This includes reworking our licensing procedures and considering use of medical students and others," he said.

Northam said the state will be making better use of its Virignia Medical Reserve Corps, a group of volunteers who can support the state in the event of a public health emergency such as the coronavirus crisis. The state has more than 8,000 deployable volunteers. More than 1,500 have volunteered in the last month, he said.

"We are looking for health care professionals, 18 or older, both current or previously licensed, as well as students," Northam said. People with medical expertise who wish to volunteer should visit the website, www.vamrc.org.

The Virginia Department of Health confirmed 391 positive cases of the new coronavirus on Wednesday. That reflects an increase of nearly 100 from the prior day.

Public health officials reported two deaths in Henrico County. Another death was reported by the Pittsylvania/Danville Health District in southern Virginia, and two more deaths were reported in the Peninsula Health District. Seven of the state's 12 deaths related to the COVID-19 virus have been reported in the Peninsula Health District.

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The two elderly patients who died in Henrico County lived at the Canterbury Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, according to the Richmond-Times Dispatch. The facility is in the greater Richmond area. Henrico County has 20 COVID-19 cases, while Richmond has 13 cases. The Canterbury Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center said that over the last 10 days, 10 of its residents, including the two who died, have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Northam on Monday ordered K-12 schools, both public and private, to remain closed for the rest of the academic year in an attempt to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Northam also issued an executive order Monday banning all gatherings of more than 10 people beginning at midnight Tuesday. The order does not include gatherings that involve health care or medical services, access to essential services for low-income residents such as food banks, operations of the media, law enforcement agencies, and operations of government. The order is to remain in place until 11:59 p.m. April 23.

Earlier this week, Falwell invited students to return to the school's dorms in Lynchburg after their spring break. Local officials were caught off guard by Liberty University's decision, with Lynchburg Mayor Treney Tweedy calling it a "reckless decision" to bring students back on campus at this time.

"We have heard too many mixed messages around the country about COVID-19, and this is yet another example," Northam said at Wednesday's news briefing. "Our message has been clear and it will continue to be clear: Stay home unless you have to leave for essential reasons."

"As we are told in the First Corinthians, it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. Proving faithful means providing clear and consistent guidance," Northam said in a message directed at Falwell, whose father founded the evangelical Christian university. "And it means respecting the duty that Liberty University has to its students, its staff, the Lynchburg community in which it is located and our commonwealth."

Northam asked Falwell to follow the lead of the state's flagship public universities "for how to set a strong example in this health crisis and to please reconsider his message that invites and encourages students to return to campus."

In response to a reporter's question, Northam said he does not have the authority to order Liberty University, a private school, to send its students home.

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