Covering Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, Lincolnia, and Seven Corners in Fairfax County, Virginia

Northam cracks down on COVID violations

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced the adoption of statewide emergency workplace safety standards July 15 in response to an increase in COVID-19 cases across the state.  

These rules mandate appropriate personal protective equipment, sanitation, social distancing, infectious disease preparedness and response plans, record keeping, training, and hazard communications in workplaces across Virginia. Face coverings are required for employees in customer-facing positions and when social distancing is not possible.

“Workers should not have to sacrifice their health and safety to earn a living, especially during an ongoing global pandemic,” Northam said. “In the face of federal inaction, Virginia has stepped up to protect workers from COVID-19, creating the nation’s first enforceable workplace safety requirements.”
The new standards require all employees to be notified within 24 hours if a coworker tests positive for the virus. Employees who are known or suspected to be positive for COVID-19 cannot return to work for 10 days or until they receive two consecutive negative tests. 
These temporary emergency standards will remain in effect for six months and can be made permanent through a process defined in state law.
In response to a surge in COVID cases in the Hampton Roads area, Northam is stepping up enforcement of existing restrictions by sending teams of state officials to visit restaurants and stores. Businesses that violate the rules on employee masks and social distancing could have their licences revoked. 
Northam is also asking mayors of beach towns for an update on how they are following through on beach access plans put forth in May, and has directed the Virginia ABC to develop a plan to impose an earlier cutoff for alcohol sales at restaurants.
Since the pandemic began, there have been over 34,000 COVID cases, nearly 3,600 hospitalizations, and nearly 990 deaths in Northern Virginia. 
Between July 8 and July 13, 351 new cases were reported in Fairfax County, a 2 percent increase from the previous week. There were 80 new cases on July 15.
Statewide, the number of positive cases is increasing even more, due mainly to a big surge in the Hampton Roads and Virginia Beach area. The number of cases among Virginians under age 30 has soared 250 percent since May. 

9 responses to “Northam cracks down on COVID violations

  1. 351 new cases in FFX. how many were tested? How many were negative? How many were in due to contact tracing? how many ended up on the hospital? how many had no symptoms or very mild symptoms. The state should be providing context for these numbers. raw data is meaningless and easily misconstrued or manipulated.

    1. It is in NO ONE's interest to give you any useful or significant information.

      This whole pandemic is used to gain political advantage and to change office.

    2. indubitably being used to gain political advantage…could be the sole reason they pulled the trigger on the plandemic gun when they did

    1. At best it is incompetence at all levels of government on how cases are identified and reported. Adding deaths that occurred weeks or months ago to a current daily count is a disservice at best and potentially nefarious. I go with incompetence. Bureaucrats don't want to go back in and put the date of death on the right day. too much work. There are at least 50,000 old deaths that will be counted over the next many months. Mark my word. Cases will stay around 750 a day for the next few months as these old cases are added to state totals. You can find all the data on various state websites and the CDC website. Just takes a bit of time to collate it and come up with the numbers cited above.

    2. eye voted for hillary and om ashamed of that…from the information eye have gathered Trump is protecting us from sum very very coldhearted folks so om willing to sway voters to him this time around…despite whatever flaws you cee he is the one the 10% doesn't want in that white house…if you are willing to rule out that this plandemic, which happened after a botched impeachment, was an attempt by sum evil ones to ruin and take over our economy and get the dude out the white house then eye got a bridge on 14th street to sell you….wonder if this comment will be approved? stay tuned!

  2. At Annandale Healthcare Center an employee came down with the virus the first part of August per a robo call to residents. Upon questioning employees no one has been told about it even now. Governor needs to know

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