Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced that his state will begin to open the economy slowly. Almost so slowly as to be stopped altogether if you listen to his advisor, Norman Oliver, the state health commissioner who says Phase One could last two years, with many businesses staying closed. Once he has destroyed the state’s economy, he will go begging Washington for hundreds of billions of dollars.
And how many people will lose their businesses because Northam refuses to reopen them? Two years is a long time, especially to remain in Phase One. How many phases will there be and how many years will it take? Are Democratic governors trying to prolong the pain in an effort to undermine the president? Do bears defecate in the woods?
Northam said:
“We cannot and will not lift restrictions like one turns on a light switch. Easing too much too soon could jeopardize public health and consumer confidence.”
The health director for Gov. Ralph Northam (D-VA) says that phase one of reopening could take at least two years.
During this time, many businesses would remain closed, face coverings would be required and social distancing would be mandated.https://t.co/Kivormne47 pic.twitter.com/SbzBa1zsmV
— Ellen Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) April 25, 2020
“I, personally, think Phase One will be a two year affair. 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 explained.
In addition to forcing some businesses to remain closed, Phase One would also impose continued restrictions on the general public. Face coverings would still be recommended in public places and employers would be encouraged to continue to allow those workers who could do so to work remotely.
***UPDATE***
The Virginia Health Department clarified Oliver’s statements Saturday, saying that the vaccine development was likely to take 18 months or longer, but that Phase One could be much shorter depending on the response to an incremental reopening of the economy.
“In the meantime we can safely ease restrictions in a phased approach,” a VDH told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. “Although we have no expectation that Phase One of this approach will last two years, some level of social distancing will have to continue until we have a treatment or a vaccine for the disease.”