Northam Urges Compliance With Rules Amid Hampton Roads Case Spike

VIRGINIA — In his first coronavirus briefing since June 25, Gov. Ralph Northam said he is encouraged that Virginia is avoiding a coronavirus surge seen in other states. But as officials monitor an increase in new cases largely attributed to Hampton Roads, also known as the Tidewater region, increased enforcement of public health restrictions is planned. Northam is considering actions such as smaller gathering sizes but believes enforcement of existing restrictions is the first step.

State Health Commissioner Norm Oliver is sending a letter to local health directors reminding them of their authority to enforce the face mask requirement and physical distancing requirements in restaurants and other gathering places. In addition, teams of inspectors from health departments, Virginia ABC, Department Agricultural and Consumer Services, and other licensing agencies are being dispatched to conduct unannounced visits.

"We'll be working in conjunction with our colleagues in ABC and Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and violators will find that their permits and licenses will be suspended," said Oliver.

Northam said in a news conference Tuesday the teams are being dispatched statewide with a focus on Hampton Roads. Oliver is also asking health directors in the Tidewater area to ensure environmental health specialists conducting restaurant inspections are "looking for people who are egregious violators of the guidelines."

Northam believes most have been following public health guidelines, but enforcement is directed at those who defy the rules.

"You are being selfish and you are hurting everyone who is doing the right thing to help us all beat this virus," he said. "I want to be clear: it's going to take everyone ... working together to do this. This is not political. It's about our health and well-being and it's also about our economy."

Northam is also encouraging businesses to step up if a customer isn't following rules.

"If a patron of your establishment is violating the rules, you have the ability to say no," he said. "It's just like the signs in so many store windows that say no shirt, no shoes, no service. Now it should be no shirt, no shoes, no mask, no service."

The governor highlighted the regional differences in the Tuesday update on Virginia's public health metrics. He said the statewide 7-day average of case numbers is increasing overall, but there's also been an increase in testing. He said more than 17,000 tests were reported Tuesday, and the state averages 10,000 tests per day.

Northam said most regions have stable or small case increases and positive rates of tests around or below the statewide average (6.8 percent). Northern Virginia, which accounts for about two-thirds of the state population, has seen cases significantly drop and a positive rate of 6.7 percent. The southwest and central regions have experienced a small uptick in cases with positive rates of 4.8 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively. Cases have remained steady in the northwest region with a 5.9 percent positive rate.

The eastern region, which includes Hampton Roads, is the outlier. Northam noted the seven-day average of new cases was around 60 in early June. Today, that average is 346. Additionally, the percent positive rate is 10.1 percent and has been rising for days.

"There is clearly substantial community spread," said Northam. "A lot of that increase is driven by people socializing without wearing masks, especially young people. As a matter of fact, the increase in the age group of 20 through 29-year-olds from here compared to early June is up 250 percent."

Oliver asked young people to remember the perception that the virus is less deadly for the young isn't true for everyone. The other concern with young people contracting the virus is spreading it to more vulnerable members of the community.

As cases of the coronavirus in Virginia were first reported in March, Northam implemented restrictions, including a stay-at-home order, closure of schools and restrictions on businesses. The first phase of easing restrictions started on May 15 for much of the state, followed by Northern Virginia, Richmond and Accomack County on May 29. The face mask mandate at indoor public places also started on May 29 and has remained in effect.

Northam believes mitigation strategies have worked and urged residents to continue to take precautions.

"We have kept our case count relatively low. We have not seen the spikes that some other states are now seeing, but we're seeing troubling numbers and an increase in cases largely out of the Hampton Roads area," said Northam. "I know we all hoped that this virus would go away but that's clearly not the case and until we have a vaccination, it will impact everything that we plan: weddings, school openings, the November election. We are in this for the long haul."

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