Virginia's governor announced plans to speed up vaccine distribution and the reopening of schools.
Governor Ralph Northam said Virginia plans to quickly add people over age 65 and with co-morbidities to the CDC’s vaccination group 1B.
“If your health district is already there, that’s now. But everyone in Virginia will be there by the end of the month," the governor explained. "This means about half of Virginia is now eligible to receive the vaccine. That’s a major logistical effort and it is not going to happen overnight.”
The state is still aiming for 25-thousand doses administered per day and is working to ensure there is enough staffing to make that a reality.
Northam also gave an update on reopening Virginia’s public schools. He said the state’s Department of Education has rolled out new guidance to get students back in classrooms as soon as possible.
“The guidance will lay out a pathway including how to use mitigation measures in school buildings and how to prioritize students," Northam said. "Every school division will have to decide what works best for it working with the local health department.”
Those guidelines include remote options for students and staff who are at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
[asset-pullquotes[{"quote": "Northam on Inauguration Security ", "style": "full"}]] Governor Northam also said Virginia is ready to help ensure a peaceful inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden next week.
And he issued this message to anyone seeking to incite violence in the coming days.
“If you’re planning to come here or up to Washington with ill intent in your heart, you need to turn around and go home. And if you come here and act out, Virginia will be ready,” the governor declared.
Northam said Virginia State Troopers and more than two thousand Virginia National Guard soldiers have been sent to the nation’s capital.
There are also increased security measures in Richmond now that the General Assembly is in session.
The FBI released a memo earlier this week warning of potential violence in D.C. and at state capitols leading up to Inauguration Day.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
