Governor Northam criticized for not wearing a mask at Virginia Beach
On Monday, the state reported the largest increase in cases since the coronavirus began. The previous daily high was on Thursday, one week after most of the state entered Phase 1 of Northam’s plan to reopen the commonwealth, Forward Virginia. Does this mean those areas of the state still stuck in Phase 0 will remain closed? Does it mean the areas in Phase 1 will remain in that phase of the recovery?
Meanwhile, Loudoun County remains at Phase Zero of the recovery plan despite having no new hospitalizations or deaths from coronavirus over the last day and only one hospitalization and no deaths the previous day. Loudoun’s leader, BOS Chair Phyllis Randall, has tied the county to the rest of NOVA so if the DC area, including the city and Maryland suburbs, doesn’t begin to reopen, neither will Loudoun. Thanks, Phyllis.
At Northam’s scheduled press conference on Tuesday, it is expected he will announce that everyone will be required to wear a facemask in public and outside if social distance cannot be maintained. However, it would appear that such rules do not apply to the Governor. On Saturday Northam toured Virginia Beach, speaking to groups of citizens and taking selfies, with no respect for social distancing and he didn’t wear a mask.
The excuse offered by the Governor’s office:
“The Governor has repeatedly encouraged wearing face coverings inside or when social distancing is impossible. He was outside today and not expecting to be within six feet of anyone.
Really? Did he think he would just stroll around the beach with no one noticing him and wanting to speak with him or get a selfie with him? He didn’t even have a mask available for use!
The minority leader of the House of Delegates Todd Gilbert summed it up very well when he said “Physician, heal thyself”.