Northam closes all schools for at least the rest of this school year

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam this afternoon closed all public schools in Virginia through at least the rest of the school year, closed all recreational and entertainment-based businesses, banned all gatherings of more than 10 people and ordered all non-essential retail businesses in the state to close if they cannot maintain a limit of 10 or fewer customers with proper distancing at all times. (View a complete list by industry here.)

With the exception of the closure of schools, all other restrictions are in place for at least the next 30 days, Northam said. The announcements came in response to the continuing spread of the COVID-19 virus, which had resulted in 254 confirmed cases and six deaths in the state as of noon today. More than 3,700 people in Virginia have been tested for the virus, Northam said.

Businesses deemed “essential,” such as grocery stores, pharmacies, banks and apparently the state’s ABC stores, must limit their customers to 10 at a time, practice social distancing and increase their sanitation levels, he said. Restaurants may continue to operate only through carryout, curbside or delivery services, he said. Construction efforts will be allowed to continue, deemed "essential," Northam said, but churches will be expected to adhere to the 10-or-fewer gathering restrictions or else close.

The state soon will provide a list on its website explaining in specific terms which businesses are considered “essential” and which aren’t, Northam said.

“Social distancing is the only path forward,” Northam said, outlining the new stark reality faced by Virginians and others worldwide. “Our priority is to save lives. We have a health crisis and we have an economic crisis, but the sooner we can get this health crisis under control, the sooner our economy will recover.”

Northam also called upon public school systems and private childcare centers to unite to provide child care for the estimated 80,000 children 12 and younger of emergency response workers in the state and promised state guidance about how to do so.

Saying that states have been left “to figure this out on their own,” Northam told reporters during his daily press briefing that he was acting in the best interests of state residents.

“There is no playbook for this,” he said. We are acting judiciously and with full regard for the consequences.”

State education officials tomorrow will provide Virginia’s public school systems with four options forward, according to State Superintendent of Education James Lane. Among them: extending the next school year or embedding lessons missed from this school into next school year.

In a statement, Henrico Schools Superintendent Amy Cashwell said the school closure news was difficult to hear.

"Like you, I am stunned and saddened to be seeing those words become a reality," she wrote. "However, Henrico County Public Schools fully supports all that is necessary to ensure the long-term health and safety of our community.

"A decision of this magnitude creates an entire universe of new questions that we will begin to answer for you. We will be updating any previously communicated information and guidance, and we promise to stay in touch as all of the information that’s important to you becomes more clear."

School officials will post updates to their COVID-19 page at https://henricoschools.us/covid19/.

“We must put aside what we want and replace it with what we need,” Northam said, praising the many Virginians who have followed guidelines and stayed home and urging those who haven’t done so yet to start. “This will change every part of our life, and all of the daily patterns that we’re used to. It will require everyone to sacrifice. It will require all of us to live differently. It will take time, but we can and we will get through this together.”

Anyone concerned about his or her access to food should text Northam FOOD or COMIDA to 877877 to learn more about feeding sites closest to them, Northam said.