Virginia Gov Northam’s Top Health Official Norman Oliver Believes ‘Phase One Will Be a Two Year Affair’

Today, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam talked about moving onto the first phase of recovery, which he called “Phase One.” State Health Commissioner Norman Oliver said of the plan, “I, personally, think Phase One will be a two year affair.”

He continued, “There are a lot of people working on this, and I hope they prove me wrong, but I don’t see it happening in less than two years.”

Oliver believes that it needs to last until “medical countermeasures” like a treatment or vaccine are rolled out broadly.

Phase One will involve keeping some businesses closed, while others reopen under “strict safety restrictions.”

Phase One will also involve “continued social distancing, continued teleworking and face coverings recommended in public,” according to an outline of the plan made public Friday.

According to officials, Virginia won’t begin to lift public restrictions once the percent of positive tests per day and hospitalizations show sustained decline over 14 consecutive days.

Northam said that while the spread of the Coronavirus in Virginia is slowing down, cases are continuing to grow, meaning that the 14-day countdown has not begun.