Northam extends elective surgery ban, DMV closures

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam today extended the existing ban on elective surgeries by one week, until May 1, and the closure of Department of Motor Vehicles public-facing offices by two weeks, until May 11. He also directed Virginia State Police to continue suspending the enforcement of motor vehicle inspections and take several additional measures through July 31.

The ban on elective surgeries will continue while the governor and State Health Commissioner M. Norman Oliver evaluate, in conjunction with hospitals and other medical facilities, how to safely ease restrictions on non-essential medical procedures, and the availability of personal protective equipment, Northam said.

“My top priority is protecting public health, and that includes ensuring that our frontline medical staff have the equipment they need to stay safe as they treat Virginians who are sick,” he said. “We have increased our supply of PPE, but before we allow elective surgeries to resume, we must first be assured that the doctors, nurses, and medical staff who are fighting this virus or conducting emergency surgeries have the necessary supplies. We are working with medical facilities on plans to ensure that we can resume elective surgeries safely and responsibly.”

The public health emergency order does not apply to any procedure if the delay would cause harm to a patient. The order also does not apply to outpatient visits in hospital-based clinics, family planning services, or emergency needs.

The move came against the wishes of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, which earlier in the day advocated for Northam to allow the original ban to expire tomorrow.

"The order has accomplished its purpose of preserving personal protective equipment and freeing up additional bed space in preparation for the COVID-19 response so there is no need to extend it beyond tomorrow," VHHA Vice President of Communications Julian Walker said in a statement. "Any extension would prevent patients with chronic conditions, and those with immediate medical needs, from receiving timely surgical care, which could have negative implications for their health. At this point, it is estimated that 15,000 inpatient and outpatient medical procedures are being deferred each week in Virginia as a result of the existing order. In addition to impacting patients, any potential continuation of the order also impacts health care providers and employees who have been furloughed during the pandemic."

At least 17 other states have lifted restrictions on non-emergency procedures, Walker said.

"While the crisis is far from over and COVID-19 will continue to be the primary focus of our hospitals and health care providers for the foreseeable future, we are mindful of the tens of thousands of Virginians who have deferred care for chronic conditions and other non-urgent medical needs," wrote VHHA President and CEO Sean Connaughton in a letter to Northam. "We are concerned that continuing to delay their care while we have available capacity to address and/or stabilize their conditions will have long-term negative impacts on health across the Commonwealth."

Hospitals continue to treat emergency patients and perform essential surgeries, and Virginians should feel safe going to hospitals if they are experiencing a medical emergency, such as a heart attack, Northam said.

Northam also today amended Executive Order 57 to allow licensed physician’s assistants with two or more years of clinical experience to practice without a collaborative agreement.

In addition, he extended Executive Directive Seven, which closed Virginia’s 75 DMV offices and its mobile units to the public and extended the validity of driver’s licenses and vehicle credentials that were due to expire. Today’s action decrees that those credentials will be valid through July 31. Virginians who need to renew a license or vehicle registration are encouraged to do so online at www.dmvnow.com.

Also today, Northam expanded Executive Directive Eight, directing the Virginia State Police to suspend enforcement of the time period in which new Virginia residents must get a driver’s license or register their vehicles, the expiration of temporary license plates, and the time period in which temporary residents may operate vehicles with out-of-state plates. The directive continues the suspension of enforcement of motor vehicle inspections by Virginia State Police. While local law enforcement may still issue citations for expired vehicle inspections, Northam is encouraging them to refrain from doing so during the pandemic. The directive is in effect until July 31.