Governor Northam has created a task force to come up with guidelines which would allow businesses across Virginia to reopen. The task force will be made up of business owners and representatives from all parts of the state and different industries, including restaurants, salons, retailers, manufacturers, and hospitals.
The task force will come up with overall business guidelines for reopening as well as industry specific guidelines for businesses such as restaurants and salons
Northam says that employees and customers will need to feel safe in returning to business and that social distancing measures, teleworking and the use recommend use of face coverings should continue.
The Governor says the growth rate of new cases of coronavirus in the state is slowing and Virginia may now be at its peak. He says the state's supply line for obtaining personal protective equipment (PPE) is good as is hospital capacity.
A plan to increase testing in the state is on track to go from the current 2,000 tests a day to 10,000 tests a day. Northam could not give an exact timeline, but expects it to happen within a few weeks.
Once more large scale testing is available, State Health Commissioner Dr. M. Norman Oliver says the number of positive cases will go up as more asymptomatic people are found. Then the Virginia Department of Health will need to do more contact tracing to track down all the people a positive person has come in contact with, which Oliver says will be very labor intensive.
The VDH is considering using phone apps to help with contact tracing and will be meeting with Apple today for a briefing on an app they have developed.
More on this story from our media partner, ABC 13 - WSET.