Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Tuesday addressed a rise in COVID-19 cases across the commonwealth, encouraging signs for a vaccine and last week鈥檚 election.
Northam said there were 1,435 new cases of the novel coronavirus detected Monday, continuing a daily trend upward that鈥檚 been going on for weeks.
He added that the test positivity rate, which had been down below 5% a few weeks ago, was up to 6.2% 鈥� a key indicator of how reliable the other numbers are.
鈥淭his virus is alive and well,鈥� Northam said; 鈥渋t鈥檚 very contagious.鈥�
Cases are particularly surging in the southwestern portion of the state, where positivity is up to 9%. Northam didn鈥檛 give any specifics about possibly reimposing more safety restrictions, saying only that there are 鈥渁 lot of things we鈥檙e considering,鈥� and that communication of the importance of wearing masks and social distancing 鈥� “things that we know work” 鈥� is key, especially with colder weather and the possibility of holiday gatherings approaching.
鈥淣o region is an island,” Northam said. “We all need to step up our vigilance and our precaution.鈥�
He added, 鈥淚鈥檓 not saying you can鈥檛 celebrate Thanksgiving. But if you鈥檙e going to celebrate with people who aren鈥檛 in your household, think of ways to do it safely.鈥�
Possible vaccine
Northam said, however, that recent news about the effectiveness of a possible vaccine from the Pfizer corporation was a bright spot that should give Virginians hope that safety measures are worthwhile: 鈥淣obody鈥檚 giving up here. And we can鈥檛 give up. 鈥� This is a time to be vigilant, to dig in, to be hopeful. There is a vaccine on the way.鈥�
He allowed that a vaccine would not be a “magic bullet,” but as a physician, Northam said, the news of a 90% efficacy rate was 鈥渧ery, very promising. We鈥檙e gonna get there, we’re gonna get there together, and we鈥檙e gonna get there by following the guidelines.鈥�
Health Officer Dr. Norman Oliver was even more optimistic: 鈥淲e can expect to have a vaccine, from one of the many in play, by the end of the year. And we are ready to get that vaccine and administer it.鈥�
Oliver cautioned, however, that 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to take months to vaccinate millions in the commonwealth,鈥� and it will take longer than that for real immunity to happen, but that his department long ago wrote a 鈥渨hole of government鈥� plan for administering a vaccine once one is approved.
Northam also announced new contracts with three testing laboratories that would add about 7,000 tests a day to Virginia’s capacity and let health authorities be “more nimble” in responding to outbreaks.
Addressing Virginians directly, Northam said, 鈥淵ou have done an exceptional job鈥� responding to the virus.
鈥� 鈥� By and large, people have listened鈥� to the safety restrictions, 鈥渁nd we can’t stop now,鈥� he said.
The election
Northam said he was glad to hear that former Vice President Joe Biden has been projected to win the presidency, especially after Biden鈥檚 first act since the election was called for him Saturday was to announce the formation of a new COVID-19 task force.
Asked what the difference could be between a Biden administration and the outgoing Trump administration, Northam said, 鈥淭here are a lot of things, and it starts with messaging鈥� about the importance of safety.
鈥淚t also includes options 鈥� like [using] the Defense Production Act鈥� for supplies, the governor said.
鈥淥ther governors and I have been saying for months鈥� that it’s necessary, Northam added.
He said that, even in the middle of a pandemic, there was 73% turnout in Virginia, helped by the fact that about 2.8 million people voted early in person or by mail.
He thanked election officials at state level and every locality, as well as poll workers, 鈥渇or a smooth and well-run election.鈥�
Localities will certify their results Tuesday; the state certifies the numbers Nov. 16. 鈥淭his is our system working as it was intended,鈥� Northam said.
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