TYSONS CORNER — Gov. Ralph Northam said Monday that Virginia has reached a pivotal point in its battle against COVID-19.
“Everyone 16 and older statewide is now eligible to be vaccinated,” Northam said.
The change in vaccine distribution strategy went into effect Sunday, making an estimated 3 million more Virginians eligible.
“We are confident everyone can get their first shot by the end of May,” Northam said as he was flanked by U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and other officials.
On Monday, almost 40 percent of the state’s population had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Twenty-five percent were fully vaccinated.
“Vaccines are the only way to end this pandemic and get back to normal,” Northam said.
He said Virginia’s daily count of new cases dipped below 1,000 over the weekend. The positivity rate for people being tested for the virus is 6.1 percent.
Northam said he may announce an easement of some of the state’s COVID-19 restrictions in coming days.
Monday, he announced that he will ease restrictions on dramas and musical presentations. The new restrictions will limit attendance to 100 indoors and 500 outdoors, or 30 percent capacity.
Warner said it has been 57 weeks since the first economic shutdown occurred due to COVID-19.
He said it is “absolutely critical” that the public get vaccinated, noting that 575,000 Americans have died from the disease.
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