Northam To Reopen Virginia Beach In Time For Memorial Day Weekend

VIRGINIA — Gov. Ralph Northam will allow the beaches in Virginia Beach to open for recreational activity on Friday, May 22, ahead of Memorial Day weekend. The change only applies to the City of Virginia Beach and First Landing State Park, both of which will follow a plan for enforcing coronavirus-related safety guidelines. Other beachfront localities remain under restrictions, which allow fishing and exercise only on beaches.

Virginia Beach's visitors will be allowed to sunbathe, swim, fish, surf and exercise as outlined by local ordinance, according to Northam. Activities not allowed on beaches are group sports, alcohol consumption, use of speakers, use of tents and groups of umbrellas. Parking will be capped at 50 percent capacity.

Northam said in a news conference Monday Virginia Beach and other beachfront localities have been preparing comprehensive plans on reopening beaches. Northam asked other beachfront areas to use Virginia Beach's plan as a model for their plans.

Under Virginia Beach's enforcement plan, beach ambassadors will monitor compliance with social distancing, physical distancing and other safety guidelines. Enhanced cleaning will address high-touch areas.

The change comes as other East Coast beach destinations announced reopening policies in recent days. Ocean City, Maryland allowed short-term rental restrictions as of 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 14. Localities in North Carolina's Outer Banks will allow visitors beginning Saturday, May 16. Delaware beaches will open for recreation to state residents on Friday, May 22, but a mandatory 14-day quarantine for out-of-state residents and ban on short term rentals continue.

Virginia Beach is in the commonwealth's first reopening phase, which means outdoor dining and non-essential retail are limited to 50 percent capacity with other restrictions. Gatherings over 10 people remain banned, and entertainment and public amusement facilities are closed.

Northam urged beach visitors to be responsible about safety when visiting beaches, or the recreational allowance may be revoked.

"If people swarm these beaches and ignore social distancing rules or the regulations the city has put into place, I will not hesitate to reinstate phase one restrictions or even close the beach outright if necessary," said Northam.

Over the weekend, local media outlets reported people were turning up to the beaches although fishing and exercising were supposed to be the only allowed activities. A Virginian-Pilot reporter noted the beach wasn't packed and groups were separated; but "there was no lack of beach blankets, towels, tents and umbrellas set up near the water."

Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer said beaches in different states are faced with addressing compliance. He said compliance with safety guidelines got Virginia Beach to the first reopening phase, and visitors will be asked to comply with rules. He estimated around 150 beach ambassadors will "diplomatically" remind visitors to practice social distancing.

"This is short-term inconvenience for a long-term gain," said Dyer. "We have to ensure that we are safe, that people that want to come to our beaches feel that they are safe and welcome, and we will do that."

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Much of the state started the first phase of reopening on May 15. Northam granted a delay to localities in Northern Virginia, the city of Richmond, and the Eastern Shore's Accomack County. These areas will remain under what Northam calls "phase zero" through at least Thursday, May 28. Northam says the seven-day trend of percent positivity of coronavirus tests continues to trend downward for the state as a whole. Percent positivity data for local health districts was made available last Friday on the Virginia Health Department of Health website. This data can be found under the testing tab.

Northam highlighted upcoming testing events that emphasize areas with high-risk populations. Those locations are identified based on several factors: population with a higher risk of health complications from COVID-19, income less than $30,000, and positive cases.

The testing events are largely focused on Northern Virginia, where many of the ZIP codes with the highest case numbers are located.

"Our very focused community events are in particular to make sure that we're not missing populations of people that may be at extra risk to be infected because of their socioeconomic status or where they live geographically and where the infections are right now," said Karen Remley, the former state health commissioner who helps lead Virginia's testing task force.

Remley said the state health department's testing events won't turn away anyone who wants to be tested. "We encourage people who are symptomatic to come forward, but certainly if you think you've been exposed to somebody nearby or you think you may have symptoms or not sure, the approach is to never turn anyone away," she said.

Upcoming state-supported testing events include:

• May 19: 1,500 tests in Manassas, 200 tests in Richmond
• May 20: 1,000 tests in Leesburg, 100 tests in Chesterfield
• May 22: 200 tests in Henrico
• May 23: 400 tests in Portsmouth, 120 tests in Petersburg
• May 23-24: 3,000 tests in Fairfax
• May 25: 3,000 tests in Alexandria

State Health Commissioner Norm Oliver said the investigational drug remdesivir is being distributed to hospitals on a limited basis. The FDA has authorized the drug for emergency use as potential treatment for hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 illness. The drug's manufacturer donated 1.5 million vials worldwide, and the allocation to the U.S. will treat an estimated 78,000 U.S. patients, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Oliver said the first distribution from HHS went to hospitals with high numbers of COVID-19 patients; that included Inova Fairfax Hospital. HHS sent more cases to Virginia to distribute; those cases are being distributed based on a randomized selection giving each hospitalized patient an equal chance. Oliver noted remdesivir is a scarce resource; a shipment of 96 cases to Virginia will be used on an estimated 350 to 400 patients.

Oliver also confirmed one case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome, in a Virginia child. The syndrome is an inflammatory disease impacting multiple organs in children associated with the new coronavirus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York City and New York state identified over 100 cases, many of which involved positive coronavirus testing. There was no immediate data on the Virginia case, as the state health department just received the report.

SEE ALSO:

• Deaths From Coronavirus Reach 1,014 In Virginia: Health Officials
• Reopening VA: 1700 New Coronavirus Cases, 32 Deaths This Weekend
• Northam Executive Order Allows NoVA To Delay Phase 1 Reopening
• Richmond, Accomack Join NoVA In Delayed Coronavirus Reopening