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- Northam: Virginia coronavirus cases could peak in late May
By SARAH RANKIN and DENISE LAVOIE
April 1, 2020
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Projection models suggest Virginia could see a surge in coronavirus cases between late April and late May, Gov. Ralph Northam said Wednesday.
“You need to know the truth. No sugarcoating,” Northam said as he delivered yet another sobering message about the pandemic, saying Virginians needed to be realistic in their expectations and prepare “for the long haul.”
The governor said he expected to release more information Friday about sites the state and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been evaluating for alternative hospital beds.
He also announced Virginia had received a third shipment of personal protective equipment from the federal Strategic National Stockpile, which has struggled to fill requests from states. The delivery included face shields, gowns and masks, “but we need more,” Northam said.
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, increased Wednesday to at least 1,484, according to the latest figures available from the state Department of Health. Thirty-four deaths have been confirmed.
Dr. Norman Oliver, the state health commissioner, said there were 305 COVID-19 patients hospitalized across the state, 145 of them in intensive care unit beds and 108 on ventilator support.
He noted the existence of a number of coronavirus projection models but said the state was working with the University of Virginia on one that would include Virginia-specific data and give “a much more accurate projection of what we can expect here in the Commonwealth.” Oliver said he expected that information to be available within “a few days.”..:tiphat:https://apnews.com/31554033450ca11a4e20ab9f99145d40