All eyes on Hampton Roads
As coronavirus cases continue to surge in Virginia, onus is on us to initiate change
Hampton Roads, the eyes of Virginia are on us. With a modest, but steady, increase in the number of coronavirus cases reported in Virginia,
Gov. Ralph Northam warned on Tuesday that a continued uptick could prompt him to reinstitute restrictions lifted during the commonwealth’s reopening process.
And he made clear which region of the state needs to better adhere to social distancing guidelines and the facemask mandate.
“Simply put: A large portion of the increase in cases that we’re seeing in our state numbers are coming from the Tidewater region,” Northam said at his press briefing.
As the paper reported Tuesday, cities here — Virginia Beach, Newport News, Chesapeake, Hampton, Portsmouth and Suffolk — have reported their largest number of cases to date in July. What’s more, the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 is trending higher, risking further spread and a larger outbreak.
By Wednesday, the seven-day percent positivity rates for the eight area health districts only say one, the Eastern Shore, is declining. The other seven reported increased, five of which leapt by double digits.
While the numbers themselves remain relatively modest, the disease can spread at a break-neck pace, the cases multiplying very quickly. A failure to act now virtually ensures more sickness — and more death — in the days and weeks to come.
After all, while the number of cases is concerning, it’s not the whole story. The worry is about overrun hospitals leading to a spike in deaths. Hospitals remain well below capacity, but with cases increasing, hospitalizations follow — as Florida, Texas, Arizona and the dozens of other states dealing with outbreaks can attest.
The good news is that the governor declined to reimpose some of the lockdown measures enacted at the start of the pandemic in March and April. He did not move the commonwealth back to phase two restrictions or introduce new measures specific to Hampton Roads.
However, he made clear those options are on the table and that he would not hesitate to act if things continue to turn sour. For now, the onus for fighting coronavirus remains with us and that more people need to act responsibly by maintaining social distance, wearing a mask, staying away from crowds and practicing good hygiene.
The facemask order continues to be a sticking point. Too many people view wearing a mask as an act of political expression rather than a public health measure, and flout the requirement in order to make a statement.
That statement? That the health and well-being of your neighbors and community is less important than political grandstanding. It’s frustrating and infuriating, especially when considering the enormous sacrifices made by so many to put the commonwealth on the right path.
From health care workers on the frontlines against the disease; to teachers and students, who have seen their lives upended; to the hundreds of thousands out of work; to so many other people doing what they can to serve their communities
— all have given so much to slow the spread and save lives.
To act recklessly now is to undo all that effort. We cannot allow that to happen.
Unfortunately, the governor didn’t have any great ideas about how to clear that hurdle. His executive order about facemasks effectively put responsibility for enforcement on businesses, which handed to them a duty they were ill-equipped to shoulder.
Northam emphasized that he wants to see businesses do more to force customers to wear masks, telling the commonwealth that Virginia’s watchword should be
“No shirt, no shoes, no mask … no service.” But that asks a lot of restaurants and retail outlets already struggling to make ends meet with fewer customers and less business.
So we must take it upon ourselves to lead by example — to practice social distancing, to wear a mask and to avoid large gatherings — and to offer guidance to others whenever possible.
All eyes are on us, Hampton Roads. Let’s make Virginia proud.