Governor Northam's COVID-19 Briefing - 12/2/2020

TOPLINE UPDATES

• Cases continue to rise in each region throughout the Commonwealth.
• Virginia is at 8.3 percent positivity, up from 5% a few weeks ago.
• Virginia expects to receive an initial 70,000 Pfizer doses in mid-December.

HOSPITALS, PPE AND CASES

• Virginia recorded over 2,400 new cases and 20 deaths today.
• 15,000 Virginians are currently hospitalized for COVID-19.
• Virginia is doing relatively well compared to the national average, but neighboring states remain a concern. In southwest Virginia, for example, Ballad Health has halted elective surgeries in all their hospitals.

VACCINES

• Pfizer and Moderna are rolling out their vaccines, with Pfizer preparing shipments to the United States and Moderna seeking emergency use authorization from the FDA.
• Governor Northam explained that vaccines are safe and effective; research and development process was rigorous and included the best science from around the world.
• Virginia will follow CDC guidelines on vaccine distribution; identified health care workers and nursing home residents as first priority.

OTHER TOPICS

• Governor Northam announced that he intends to nominate Angela Navarro to fill a vacancy on the State Corporation Commission. Navarro is an attorney who recently served in Northam’s administration as Deputy Secretary of Commerce & Trade.