Back in Business: Virginia Businesses Shed Some Restrictions
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CIRCULATION 15,000 10,000 Free May 15, 2020 BACK IN BUSINESS: VIRGINIA BUSINESSES SHED SOME RESTRICTIONS ... Some Virginia businesses al- Overnight summer camps will re- main closed. lowed to open gradually as the Private campgrounds may open, governor keeps an eye on data with restrictions on the distance be- tween campsites. trends before deciding on sub- Beaches will remain open only for sequent phases and further eas- fishing and exercise. ing of restrictions Gyms and entertainment and amusement facilities will remain By Stefanie Jackson closed, but gyms may hold outdoor Today begins the first phase of Gov. classes with limitations. Ralph Northam’s plan for Virginia to Childcare facilities will remain open reopen for business. for working families. “We are not flipping a light switch The 10-person limit for gatherings from closed to open. It’s more of a dim- and social distancing guidelines will mer switch,” Northam said last Friday continue, as well as the recommenda- when he unveiled Phase One of the tions to wear face masks in public and three-phase Forward Virginia plan, wash hands frequently. which will gradually ease restrictions The “stay at home” order will be- that were put in place to combat the come a “safer at home” order – espe- COVID-19 pandemic. cially for those who are at risk due to Diners enjoy outdoor seating at the Cape Charles restaurant Ambrogia in May Some businesses will reopen at re- age or underlying health conditions, 2019. Under Gov. Ralph Northam’s plan, restaurants may resume outdoor duced capacity and others will remain Northam said. seating May 15 using up to 50% of their outdoor capacity. Accomack County closed temporarily. “While there are a few more places to restaurants would have to delay two more weeks if the governor approves a Salons and barber shops may open go, everyone should still only go there plan voted on by supervisors May 13. File photo by Connie Morrison. for business by appointment only, with as needed, and otherwise stay home as strict social distancing and face cover- much as possible,” he cautioned. ings required. Working from home is still encouraged. Restaurants and breweries with No business is required to reopen, ... But Accomack Requests 2 More Weeks outdoor seating may offer up to 50% but businesses that do not meet the Supervisors vote 5-4 to send a re- Five Accomack supervisors — Chair- of their outdoor seating capacity to Phase One guidelines must stay closed. quest to the governor to delay Phase person C. Reneta Major, Ron Wolff, Va- guests. Restaurants may continue to The guidelines may be found at https:// nessa Johnson, Billy Joe Tarr, and Don- offer delivery and carryout options. www.virginia.gov/ One of recovery in Accomack County ald L. Hart Jr., who also is Accomack’s Nonessential retail stores may offer Northam advised Virginia workers, “If for two weeks emergency services director — favored up to 50% of their capacity to custom- you feel your workplace is unsafe because By Carol Vaughn getting more data specific to the county ers, up from the previous limit of 10 in- it is not following the rules, please report The Accomack County Board of Su- before allowing it to enter Phase One. dividuals allowed inside at once. that to our Department of Labor and In- pervisors is asking the governor to keep County Administrator Michael Ma- Churches and other places of wor- dustry, also referred to as DOLI, and they Accomack County at its current level son said the data — using the same ship may hold indoor services using will investigate it.” of restrictions due to the COVID-19 metrics Gov. Ralph Northam cited as up to 50% of their capacity. Drive-in Phase One could last at least two to pandemic for two more weeks, as he evidence the state was ready to begin services with 10-person limits may four weeks, depending on data trends. did for Northern Virginia. reopening — has been requested but continue. Northam confirmed that Virginia The vote, at a special board meeting not yet received. State parks may operate only during had seen a 14-day downward trend Wednesday, was 5 to 4. Those include a downward trend the day, with 10-person limits. Over- in the percentage of positive tests for Virginia is set to enter Phase One of of positive tests and hospitalizations night stays in RVs, tents, and cabins the novel coronavirus, allowing Phase recovery, which eases some restrictions over a 14-day period; increased test- will be phased in gradually. (Continued on Page 5) on businesses and individuals, on Friday. (Continued on Page 4) 2 • EASTERN SHORE POST • MAY 15, 2020 Northampton Supervisors Get Health District Update on COVID-19 More than half the county’s weeks, surveyed about 900 of the 1,400 individuals who were tested at ESCC cases originated in Heritage and are compiling the data into a report. Hall long-term care facility A CDC infection prevention control specialist visited Heritage Hall to educate By Stefanie Jackson employees on topics such as proper don- Jon Richardson, chief operating of- ning and doffing of PPE (personal protec- ficer of the Eastern Shore Health Dis- tive equipment) and cleaning measures. trict, updated Northampton super- “She was very impressed with Heri- visors on the coronavirus pandemic tage Hall’s housekeeping staff,” Richard- during their May 12 regular meeting, son said. “In fact, she said it was one of the which was held electronically. best staffs she had come across in all her As of May 12, Northampton County travels in the visits she does to long-term had 171 cases of COVID-19, and more care facilities … around the country.” than half of them – about 98 – orig- Supervisor Betsy Mapp asked Rich- inated at the Heritage Hall nursing ardson if he thought the Eastern Shore home in Nassawadox, Richardson said. was ready to reopen for business. “Most of our resources right now “We’ve got to follow what the gov- are involved … in case investigations ernor thinks is best for the state,” he … reaching out to every single positive said, but “the rate of infection that case and following them throughout we’re seeing … is promising.” their illness period,” he said. “I think the important thing is go- After Gov. Ralph Northam’s May 8 ing to be – while we’re reopening – is unveiling of Phase One of his Forward really making sure that people listen,” Virginia plan, some health department Richardson continued. resources were redirected “to figure out Some members of the community some of the measures we can put into “don’t really think this thing is a seri- place to keep people safe while business- ous thing, but any of us that have had es start to reopen,” Richardson continued. … somebody close to us pass away, we The majority of the Heritage Hall know it’s not a joke,” he said. COVID-19 cases were found April 30, The governor’s executive order 61 when the Virginia National Guard tested gives the health department more au- every resident and employee at the facility. thority to enforce coronavirus-related When the health department realized restrictions, and “we’re definitely go- how many Heritage Hall employees would ing to rely on the county as a partner be unable to work due to COVID-19 in- in that,” Richardson said. fection, the department worked over the Dr. Richard Williams, director of the weekend to coordinate with the Virginia Eastern Shore Health District, offered Medical Reserve Corps. Volunteers began additional advice. reporting for duty at the nursing home by Sanitizing surfaces, social distanc- 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Richardson said. ing, and avoiding large crowds are About 1,400 Eastern Shore residents practices that should continue during 2020 received free COVID-19 testing at East- Phase One, he said. ern Shore Community College (ESCC) “Wearing cloth face coverings is going last weekend, and preliminary results to be extremely important,” he added. show around 3.5% tested positive, he said. “We protect each other when we do that. “That’s actually fairly decent com- We really don’t know, in this environ- pared to what we were worried we ment, whether we might have COVID might see,” Richardson said. and we don’t even know about it.” The event presented an opportuni- Only about 3% of the coronavi- ty for the health department to learn rus tests done at the community col- more about how many asymptomatic lege were positive, but that was only a people are carrying the disease. “snapshot in time,” Williams cautioned. A team from the CDC (Centers for “The nature of this pathogen, this Disease Control), which has had “boots organism, is very, very tricky. 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