Stay-at-home order issued; cases in county pass 200

Gov. Ralph Northam issued an executive order on Monday mandating Virginians stay at home except for essential trips in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The order expands on an executive order issued last week that had closed all schools and banned gatherings of 10 or more people in any situation except for essential businesses like grocery stores.

“To date this has been a suggestion to Virginians,” Northam said. “today, it’s an order.”

This executive order, which can be read here, explicitly tells citizens to stay at home as much as possible. It also closes beaches in the state — fishing and exercise on the beach are still ok — and forbids campground reservations of less than 14 days.

“We are in a public health crisis, and we need everyone to take this seriously and act responsibly,” Northam said. “Our message to Virginians is clear: stay home. We know this virus spreads primarily through human-to-human contact, and that’s why it’s so important that people follow this order and practice social distancing.”

Northam’s newest order allows for the following exceptions:

• Obtaining food, beverages, goods, or services
• Seeking medical attention, essential social services, governmental services, assistance from law enforcement, or emergency services
• Taking care of other individuals, animals, or visiting the home of a family member
• Traveling required by court order or to facilitate child custody, visitation, or child care
• Engaging in outdoor activity, including exercise, provided individuals
  comply with social distancing requirements
• Traveling to and from one’s residence, place of worship, or work
• Traveling to and from an educational institution
• Volunteering with organizations that provide charitable or social services
• Leaving one’s residence due to a reasonable fear for health or safety, at the direction of law enforcement, or at the direction of another government agency

The order came as coronavirus cases continued to quickly increase nationally and in Virginia. As of Monday night there were 1,020 cases in the state and 225 in Fairfax County, and the numbers are only expected to go up in the next two months, putting a potentially overwhelming burden on hospitals and health care workers.

Right now there are 136 hospitalizations in the state. Last week Northam ordered that hospitals stop performing elective surgery in order to free up hospital beds and conserve protective gear.

Current coronavirus cases breakdown:

• Cases in Fairfax County: 225 (as of March 30)
• Tests Fairfax County: Unknown (as of March 30)
• Deaths in Fairfax County: 2 (as of March 30)
  source: Fairfax Department of Health

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• Cases in Virginia: 1,020 (as of March 29)
• Tests in Virginia: 12,038 (as of March 29)
• Deaths in Virginia: 25 (as of March 29)
  source: Virginia Department of Health

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• Cases in U.S. 140,904 (as of March 20)
• Tests in United States: unknown (as of March 20)
• Deaths in United States: 2,405 (as of March 20)
  source: CDC.gov