Northam’s plan to reopen Virginia’s economy could have a May 8 target

The Southwest Virginia delegation of state lawmakers has drafted a letter asking Governor Ralph Northam to open up the economy due to neighboring states preparing to have storefronts and restaurants bustling once again.

Northam admits that there is a disparity among coronavirus cases when comparing metro and rural areas but opening up the state in certain segments is not in his plans of opening the entire state in phases.

“I have really, as best I can, tried to be consistent and doing this as in the name of Virginia is a Commonwealth so our plans to date, as of today are to not open up one region before the other,” he said Friday at a news conference in Richmond.

The governor said COVID-19 cases seem to be peaking but he reiterated that the return to business and life, in general, will not be as simple as flipping a switch on and off.

“If our numbers will continue, if we can get a little bit of help out there with our (coronavirus case) numbers, I would really like to see us be able to go into phase one as soon as May 8 but certainly no sooner than that,” said Northam.

(PHOTO: Associated Press)