Northam shuts down DMV offices

Gov. Northam speaks at a news briefing March 17.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has closed all DMV offices statewide in response to the coronavirus pandemic. For anyone whose licenses and registrations expire on May 15, the state will grant a 15-day extension. Online services are still available.

Speaking at a news conference March 17, Northam said the state is restricting gatherings with more than 10 people, and that includes restaurants, malls, theaters, and other public facilities. To slow down the spread of the highly contagious disease, the federal government has recently revised its guidelines for gatherings from 50 to 10 people.

The rule of 10 is not a mandate, Northam stressed, and restaurants are, encouraged, but not required to abide by that rule. If restaurants exceed that number, he said they should switch to carryout orders.

Regarding state services, Northam said, “Everyone who needs food assistance will be able to get it.” Unemployment funds are available to help mitigate the impact on employees and businesses, and the state has waived the one-week waiting period so people can get benefits right away.

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Northam also urged people over 65 to self-quarantine.

Social distancing is key to reducing the number of new infections, Northam said. “We all have a responsibility to each other.” Young people might think it won’t affect them, but they can infect others, including older relatives and neighbors, who are at high risk of serious complications.

“Everyone must use commonsense,” he said. “Everyone has a responsibility to be part of the solution. Do not go to St. Patrick’s Day parties tonight. If you do, you are putting others at risk.”

There are 67 cases of COVID-19 in Virginia, including seven since March 16, and two deaths, said the state’s health commissioner, Dr. Norman Oliver. That number will increase, as there are 48 tests still pending.

Broken down by region, there are 38 cases in the northern region, 18 in the eastern, nine in the central, four in the northeast, and none in the southwest region. The majority are non-travel related, Oliver said. Most people being infected now are associated with other known cases, and there are a growing number of cases of “community transmission,” where the victim had no known exposure to other cases. That is particularly prevalent in the Virginia Peninsula area, where there is a cluster of illness.

COVID-19 is, for the most part, not like a bad cold, Oliver said. Even cases that were considered “mild” in China included severe pneumonia.

Virginia currently has 300 to 400 testing kits, he said, and that number should double by the end of the day. The state is also working on expanding its hospital capacity.