Virginia Society of Plastic Surgeons
 

Governor Northam's COVID-19 Briefing - 3/23/2021

  • Tuesday, March 23, 2021

FORWARD VIRGINIA

  • Case numbers have improved dramatically since the peak in January.
  • Statewide percent positivity is currently 5.6%, down from 17% in early January.
  • We are seeing less hospitalizations and ICU admissions than we have seen in Virginia since October 2020.
  • Governor Northam stresses the importance of mass vaccination in the process of getting “back to normal”.
  • Last week, Virginia issued new guidance for outdoor events, such as graduation ceremonies.
  • New guidelines will go into effect next week, starting April 1.
    • Social gatherings may have up to 50 people indoors, and 100 people outdoors.
    • Indoor entertainment venues can operate at 30% capacity, with up to 500 people total.
    • Outdoor entertainment venues will also operate at 30%, but will no longer have a numerical cap.
    • The number of spectators for recreational sporting events will increase to 100 indoors, 500 outdoors.
      • Infrastructure at professional sports/entertainment venues allows for greater distancing between spectators, which is why the numerical cap for those venues has been lifted for those venues before high school or other recreational sports.
    • Outdoor graduation events may have up to 5,000 people, or 30% capacity of the venue.
      • Indoor graduations can have 500 people, or 30% capacity of the venue, whichever is less.
    • Weddings will be able to have up to 100 people outdoors, and 50 indoors.
  • Governor Northam stresses that the mask mandate does still remain in place, and the use of face coverings, social distancing, and hand washing remain vitally important.

VACCINE LOGISTICS

  • Virginia has recived over 500,000 doses of the vaccine this week.
  • We are currently on track to meet President Biden's goal of having the vaccine available to every adult by May 1.

VACCINE DISTRIBUTION

  • Mass vaccination clinics opened last week in Danville and at Virginia State University in Petersburg.
    • One will open today in Prince William county.
    • The clinics are able to administer 6,000 shots per day, and run 6 days per week.
  • Some localities have been able to move into vaccinating Group 1C, covering more essential workers.
  • With the current rate of distribution, vaccine eligibility should be able to open up to the general population within a few weeks.

COVID-19 CASES, STATISTICS AND MODELING

  • Total cases: 607,234
    • New in the last 24 hours: 1,267
  • Total deaths: 10,137

Related