Northam extends ban on elective surgery

A technician at the Fairfax County Health Department Laboratory has a message for the public.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on April 23 extended the ban on elective surgeries until May 1. That ban had been set to expire tomorrow. Northam also extended the closure of Department of Motor Vehicle public-facing offices by two weeks until May 11.

“We have increased our supply of PPE, but before we allow elective surgeries to resume, we must first be assured that the doctors, nurses, and medical staff who are fighting this virus or conducting emergency surgeries have the necessary supplies,” Northam states.

The public health emergency order does not apply to any procedure if the delay would cause harm to a patient, and it does not apply to outpatient visits in hospital-based clinics, family planning services, or emergency needs.

While DMV offices are closed, Virginia State Police are directed to continue suspending the enforcement of motor vehicle inspections through July 31.

Driver’s licenses and vehicle credentials that were due to expire will be valid through July 31.
Virginians who need to renew a license or vehicle registration are encouraged to do so online.

State police are also directed to suspend enforcement of the time period in which new Virginia residents must get a driver’s license or register their vehicles, the expiration of temporary license plates, and the time period in which temporary residents may operate vehicles with out-of-state plates.

In other coronavirus news: 


Cases trending up – As of April 23, there are a total of 2,413 COVID-19 cases in the Fairfax Health District, including 107 new cases, and 80 deaths. That’s 14 new deaths in the past two days.

A staff member at Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads has tested positive for COVID-19, the Falls Church News-Press reports. No other staff member or resident has tested positive.

Layoffs at Inova – Inova Health System is eliminating 427 positions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The COVID crisis has caused an immense decline in our clinical activity, resulting in losses of hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue,” Inova Health System President and CEO Stephen Jones announced April 23.

Inova has already cut back on non-clinical hires, travel, contracts, consulting, and capital projects and has reduced the salaries of senior leaders.

Cutbacks at the JCC – The Pozez Jewish Community Center has had to furlough or lay off the bulk of its 200+ employees after learning that its application for a Paycheck Protection Program loan was not approved before the funds appropriated by Congress ran out.

Most of the JCC’s revenue comes from its early childhood learning center, before and after-school childcare, the fitness center, and its summer camp – all of which are temporarily suspended.

Telework extension urged – Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser urge the Trump Administration to keep telework policies in place for the federal workforce. More than one-fifth of the nation’s federal workers live in those three jurisdictions.

“While of course any essential employee should continue to report to work, we know that a continued federal telework policy will help save lives by allowing more of our region’s 360,000 federal employees to work from home,” Hogan, Northam, and Bowser wrote in a letter to Michael J. Rigas, acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, on April 23.

Apartment safety – The Fairfax County Emergency Information blog offers some advice for apartment residents to stay healthy during the coronavirus pandemic and urges property owners to take extra precautions to keep their residents safe.

Among the recommendations for apartment dwellers:

• Don’t crowd onto elevators.
• Limit your use of common spaces, like gyms, party rooms, laundry rooms, and pet relief areas. Stay at least six feet apart from residents and building staff.
• Wear a cloth face covering – especially since it may be difficult stay six feet away from others in elevators and laundry rooms.
• Limit visitors to those who are providing essential services.