Governor Northam says will take a close look at COVID-19 numbers in Virginia in coming days to see if there is any surge in new cases created over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend — and whether to order tighter statewide restrictions. For now, the governor says he will continue the restrictions he ordered almost three weeks ago; they include limiting all gatherings to no more than 25, shutting off restaurant alcohol sales at 10:00 pm and closing restaurants at midnight. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more;
Northam says Virginia has a lower rate of new cases than 45 other states, but he says the current caseload numbers continue to increase, and 15,000 people are currently hospitalized for treatment of the virus in Virginia hospitals.
The governor says workplaces and schools are collectively doing a good job of adhering to health safety guidelines, but most of the new cases are being acquired at churches and small gatherings.
Northam says the state expects to receive its first 70,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine shortly after federal approval is granted, perhaps by mid-December, and the first doses will be administered to health care workers and residents of long-term health care facilities.
