While the sand and surf at the Virginia Beach oceanfront have been given the green light to partially open, the beach at Cape Charles remains closed.
Supposedly, VB has provided some sort of policing policy that seemed to satisfy the governor.
The Mirror attempted to contact Mayor Smitty Dize about whether he or the alleged Town Manager had contacted Northam about opening our beach. The response was the status quo–no response (his business, of course, has not been affected by the lockdown). Quite different from when George Proto and Larry DiRe were on board. I believe Proto and DiRe would have been on the phone to Richmond every day since April 1. The governor would have our beach protection plan on his lap right now.
So, the beach remains closed until Northam gives the go-ahead to lift the gates of Stalag 13. Meanwhile, our elected “officials” and paid staff cowers like craven dogs under the Governor’s “Executive Order”. This is not leadership, and certainly not a well thought out risk management strategy.
It’s such a joke. If you sit on the beach, all by yourself, with the nearest person 3000 yards away, the Five-O will swoop down with their ATVs and run your ass off…from your own beach. A pretty pathetic flex, really.
COVID-19 is quite impressive…it doesn’t contaminate you at Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Costco, etc…but it will get your ass at Kelly’s, The Shanty, or at the beach.
And there are the people (Karens) that agree with this nonsense, “You are an ass…they are just trying to keep the town safe!” Resting Karen Face is a thing, I’m learning. Sort of a demeanor that says “I am THIS CLOSE to lecturing you while looking like I’m dying to get day drunk on rosé.” These are the same people that confront you about not wearing a mask.
Note: We are all in this together…but some of us are more in than others. As a rule of thumb, deaths from too much freedom are an atrocity, while deaths from too much authoritarianism are an unfortunate necessity that we’d thank you not to mention.
What has led to the stupid reaction? Cape Charles, like most of the world, doesn’t know the difference between scary and dangerous. Sure, Covid-19 is scary, but how dangerous is it? It kills for sure, but this is not our first rodeo with diseases.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing around 650,000 people every year, 54,000 per month, or approximately 200,000 people between February and mid-May of this year. This qualifies as extremely dangerous. Should we close the beach down when someone dies from this? Medical malpractice is the third leading cause, so by all means, let’s listen to the “experts”.
According to CDC data, 81% of deaths from COVID-19 in the United States are people over 65 years old, most with preexisting conditions. If you add in 55-64-year-olds that number jumps to 93% (if you take away nursing home deaths, the number plummets). For those below age 55, preexisting conditions play a significant role, but the death rate is currently around 0.0022%, or one death per 45,000 people in this age range. Below 25 years old the fatality rate of COVID-19 is 0.00008%, or roughly one in 1.25 million, and yet we have shut down the county, and town.
Good article but you missed one important point. The reading comprehension of the town is lacking. Beaches are not closed. They are only closed to activities other than exercising and fishing unless the town council went above and beyond Northam’s order and fully closed the beach, but I don’t think that was done. So I think the town council has some explaining to do as to how a banner was erected at the entrance to our town stating that the beach is off-limits, when it was, in fact, still open. Maybe it was meant to further the town manager’s goal of making the town uncomfortable to tourists. — Reader Submitted Comment via Facebook
What are we doing, really? There is nothing more horrifying than stupidity in action. While the beach is a metaphor, what the town has done has shut down the private sector, usurped more power for itself, and has destroyed a large chunk of wealth. Short-term risk has been parlayed into long-term problems.
A review of all of this needs to be done. One piece of data that is emerging is that the real non-essentials are the Mayor, Town Council, and 2/3 of town employees.
walter parks says
AGREE
Doug Luther says
I agree with your article 100%! The Cape Charles town council is as dumb as a box of rocks!
For years they have been screaming for people to come to the quaint town of Cape Charles.
It’s a good town to live in.
Now they are telling people to stay away from the town! Restricting the people that live here.
Then you want tourists to come. And you choose tourists over people that live here. And now you want tourists to stay away.
The town council can not do a damn thing right for the town!
Welcome to our town! Give us your money and go the hell away!
Debbie Garner says
On the bright side, if people are not sitting on the beach they may just go browsing in town and do some shopping (hopefully with a mask and proper distancing). They may grill out and play lawn games. They may enjoy a drink at Cape Charles Distillery, Shanty, etc. They can ride bikes, rent a golf cart, walk the streets and enjoy the historic area. They can have a porch party and chat with passers by or RELAX and read a good book. It’s OK …Cape Charles is still a great destination for summer 2020. Have you seen the pics of folks on the beaches around the country this weekend? Most do not social distance and whether you believe it or not America and the world are battling a pandemic and safety first should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Our leaders are doing the best they can and it’s impossible to please everyone, especially the ignorant. You can’t fix stupid…
Note: Like we said, resting Karen face is really a thing. Thanks for taking a ride on the Pollyanna express Karen!
Terry Carney says
Should this attitude continue, we will not have to worry about visitors coming to town next summer, fir there will be few businesses open for anyone including residents to shop in.
Dan Burke says
Another great family activity could be measuring the distance between people lining up in front of the one porta potty. Bathrooms, it was decided, were to remain closed. Why? Because we can!
JaeK says
You can’t blame the town employees for following orders. I’m referring to the town maintenance workers, etc. They have a job and they have a boss. Do I think the way the higher-ups are handling the beach closure is unnecessary? Of course! And so do the town employees! They simply have a job to do if they want to get retain said job and get paid.
Note: Agreed. The police don’t want to be doing this, we know that. Public works, as always doing the job at hand, and doing it well.
VA Patriot says
That was the refrain from every Nazi at the Nuremberg Trials. We were just following orders. If the Town Council decides everyone must be vaccinated will you blindly let them stick a needle in your arm so they can try a vaccine that was produced in record time? Hey they are just following orders.
Paula Nico says
I totally agree! Study the history of the Nazi regime and see how they kept “people in line” it’s dangerous to remain passive and silently ignorant!
Paul Plante says
The “GOOD GERMANS” who we studied about right after WWII kept themselves in line – “Jawhol, mein Führer,” as their heels clicked together and the right arm rapidly extended outward in the “Hitler salute.”
But for the “GOOD GERMANS” and their unquestioning obedience to their “leader,” Hitler would have been a big nothing-burger.
We were taught about the “GOOD GERMANS” as children so that we would not emulate them in this country.
Americans are not supposed to blindly follow whatever commands some petty tyrant or dictator hands down.
But so much for that now in America.
The age of the “GOOD AMERICANS,” as much a cud-chewing, docile, unquestioning bovine-like species as were the “GOOD GERMANS” is now upon us, which proves my kindergarten teacher right when she said that in my lifetime, I was going to see this day come, and so it has.
Publius Americanus says
Behfel zu behfel.
Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it.
Publius Americanus says
Jah, behfel zu behfel.
I mean it worked at Nuremberg, right?
Karen Gay says
Thank you, Wayne, for your reporting on this issue. At first when we heard about this virus we were all alarmed at its reported virulence. We paid attention to the Imperial Model that was developed by Neil Ferguson and closed our economy up in order to slow the arrival of sick patients to hospitals. Since then the Imperial Model has been soundly discredited and we are learning that there has been a huge impact to those in nursing homes while for most of us, there’s about a .1% chance of dying. We clearly need to address how to keep our beloved elderly safer in nursing homes while allowing their friends and family to comfort them as they pass into the next world. 99.9% of the rest of us are likely to survive Coronavirus – about the same number as survived the flu in previous years. The question remains, now that time has passed and we all know more, why are we not free to move about without masks? The hospitals are available, we achieved our goal of slowing down the influx of patients, we know that we are more likely to die of cancer or heart disease, and suicide rates are up. We seem to have ever-shifting goal posts for success.
I’ve been watching what goes on in Virginia Beach, and before this weekend the police were not arresting those sitting on the beach. For their “safety plan” they clearly had to spend money to hire so-called Ambassadors to ensure that people were obeying the rules. Photos I saw showed these yellow-shirted folks walking close to each other as they told others to separate. I saw photos of our Governor up close to others in his retinue and no masks. This is hypocrisy at its finest, especially when the Governor will announce on Tuesday instructions to all of us about wearing masks.
The elected officials in this town had choices to make. They chose to subserviently follow the executive order that VB had chosen to disregard. There were other choices not involving the spending of money. For instance, they could have called for volunteers to walk the beach for 2 hour intervals. They could have limited beach time to 6 hours, say from 11:00 to 5:00. I would have volunteered for this. We would have needed only 6 volunteers each day. Or, they could have disregarded the order, as VB did, and let people in town just get on with their lives.
We all know that being on the beach is vastly different than being in Walmart. Yet many people aware of the senselessness of this obediently follow orders. They mouth phrases like “the town is keeping us safe” and “this is the new normal.” Safe from what – a 1% death rate? Do we really want to go through this again next year and every other flu season because this is “normal?” What is wrong with us?
Ray Otton says
Ironic that one of the few voices of reason on this site is named Karen. 🙂
Note: Some folks might be asking, “Am I a Karen?”
Ask yourself this question:
Am I angry at people in Missouri for enjoying themselves in a pool?
If the answer is yes, you are a Karen.
Hope this helps.
David Muir says
“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing around 650,000 people every year, 54,000 per month, or approximately 200,000 people between February and mid-May of this year. This qualifies as extremely dangerous. Should we close the beach down when someone dies from this?”
Possibly one of the dumbest things I’ve ever read. Heart disease is not a communicable disease the last time I checked.
Note: Where did we say it was communicable Karen? 655k per year, or 54k per month, and you disgusting, pathetic la chatte urinate yourselves over a little germ. Karens.
Jack says
Sounds like youre the one urinating over getting called out on your own sophomoric attempt at trying to make a point. You (Karens) sound as stupid as “youre not allowed to just sit on the beach with social distancing” but you can if youre fishing.” Your brand of vitriol is tiresome. You catch more flies than vinegar.
Jim Metz says
When you have to resort to insults to make a point, maybe you don’t have a point to make.
Note: Really, you just said that to a person that grew up listening to the Jerky Boys on a very cheap cassette player? Sometimes, mockery is the ultimate point. Now go back to bed and eat your porridge.
Jim Metz says
Thank you for illustrating my point.
Doug Luther says
Box of rocks!
Doug Luther says
I’m sorry. The box of rocks is the best I could do for ya.
I been waiting for two years for them to change the reverse parking. It could have been a good time to change the parking back to the way the normal traffic pattern flows. They let a good crisis go to waste! The town council could have done something good for the town.
The box rocks fits!
Stacey says
Wow!! It’s about time. Thank you so much for writing this and for all the time you spent pulling together the information. 👏👏👏👏
Smitty Dize says
A couple of corrections to your story,
1. I’m not sure how the mirror tried to reach out to me as my emails, phone calls, text messages and social media accounts goes directly to my phone. I never received a voicemail, email, message or anything from the mirror. I did however receive and answer plenty from constituents.
2. Myself and Councilman Bannon went and asked Larry DiRe to be interim Town Manager, although I was Mayor Elect and hadn’t took office yet. The Mr. DiRe and Mayor Proto era was only a month at the most.
3. Yes myself and Mr. Hozey spoke with the Governors office last Thursday as was stated in last Thursday’s Town Council meeting.
So in the future if you want to reach me, email is the best mayor@capecharles.org
Note: We used the same email as always, no response. As my football coach used to tell us, “I want results, not excuses.” Do your job.
Paul Plante says
Mr. Mayor, while we have you on the line here, the candid world that comes to Cape Charles to use the beach are very curious as to what authority Ralph Northam has to tell you as Cape Charles mayor how to run the town of Cape Charles.
Consider the language of § 3.5 of the Charter of the town of Cape Charles, entitled “Powers and duties of mayor,” wherein is stated thusly, to wit:
The mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the town.
He shall have and exercise all power and authority conferred by general law not inconsistent with this Charter.
end quotes
Focus in on those words “shall have and exercise all power and authority conferred by general law.”
When you say you spoke to the governor’s office, are you actually telling people who read the Cape Charles Mirror that you as Cape Charles town mayor consider Ralph Northam to be the law in the Commonwealth, as opposed to what is actually written in the Code of Virginia?
Now, correct me if I am wrong here, but doesn’t § 15.2-1512 of the Code of Virginia require that all local government officials, which would include yourself, upon entering office, take the following oath:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties incumbent upon me as ………. according to the best of my ability, (so help me God).”
Not a mere formality, the oath is a public pledge that the official, in this case yourself, is supposed to understand the requirements of the position, and will work to meet or exceed those requirements, and those taking the oath must fully consider the meaning of the oath and all of its important implications.
With respect to your oath to support the Constitution of Virginia, surely you must know that pursuant to section 2 of Article I, the Virginia Bill of Rights, entitled “People the source of power,” states thusly, to wit:
That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people, that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them.
end quotes
Do you agree with that statement, that both you and Ralph Northam are at all times amenable to the people of the Commonwealth, and that all power is vested in and derived from the people, not Ralph Northam?
Or is that a bunch of hog crap in your estimation?
And according to the Constitution of Virginia you swore and oath to support, section 7 of Article V, titled “Executive,” states in clear and unambiguous regulatory language as follows:
The Governor shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
end quotes
So, Mr. Mayor, the candid world looking in on this developing situation where it appears that you are putting Ralph Northam ahead of the laws of the Commonwealth would like to hear from you as to what laws Ralph Northam is faithfully executing that has you as Cape Charles mayor closing the Cape Charles beach, which you personally do not own just as you don’t own or control the waters of the Chesapeake Bay.
Or do you just do what Ralph Northam tells you to do, oath of office and Constitution of Virginia be damned?
Smitty Dize says
Mr. Plante,
Truthfully you are so long winded I normally skip past anything your write, but beings this is directed to me I will respond.
Yes I took an oath to uphold the laws and constitution of the United States and the commonwealth of VA. I don’t claim to know everything that’s why we have an attorney to advise. I do know we are a Dillon rule state and it complicates things just a little. The Governor of Virginia has the power to issue executive orders, we as a Town must follow those executive orders.
Finally I firmly believe the people have the power. There is no need to give another long winded response to make yourself sound good because I probably won’t read it or won’t reply to it.
Just out of curiosity what section of town do you live in?
Stuart Bell says
He is a Veteran. He earned the right to not be questioned by you.
Smitty Dize says
Everyone can be questioned by everyone Stuart. I moved from Onancock in 2013 and I live in the Historic District!
Kevin Parks says
Just out of curiosity, what section of town do you live in?
Stuart Bell says
He lived in Onnancock the last time I checked.
Smitty Dize says
Historic District
Paul Plante says
Mr. Mayor, what an absolute gentleman you are, getting back to me as you have done above, which is why all we tourists flock to Cape Charles, for the ambience you provide, as opposed to say, Wildwood or Atlantic City, where they do not have a mayor so personable and friendly and warm and cuddly as yourself, which is an essential quality for a tourist-oriented town like Cape Charles.
With your courteous reply above here, you most certainly are setting an example that many other mayors all across America, and here I am thinking of goofy Bill DeBlasio of New York City, would be wise to follow if they too want tourists from not only America, but the world, as well, flocking to their towns.
Courtesy in a public official like yourself is so rare these days, which makes it a truly genuine pleasure to encounter it here.
As to your statement, “(T)he Governor of Virginia has the power to issue executive orders, we as a Town must follow those executive orders,” that power of the governor to issue executive orders derives from Virginia Code § 44-146.17. Powers and duties of Governor, which states thusly:
The Governor shall be Director of Emergency Management.
He shall take such action from time to time as is necessary for the adequate promotion and coordination of state and local emergency services activities relating to the safety and welfare of the Commonwealth in time of disasters.
The Governor shall have, in addition to his powers hereinafter or elsewhere prescribed by law, the following powers and duties:
Such executive orders declaring a state of emergency may address exceptional circumstances that exist relating to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation concerning a communicable disease of public health threat that is issued by the State Health Commissioner for an affected area of the Commonwealth pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 32.1.
end quotes
In this specific case of COVID, according to the record, on February 7, 2020, the Virginia State Health Commissioner, M. Norman Oliver, did in fact declare COVID-19 a disease of public health threat.
Thereafter, on March 12, via Executive Order No. 51 (EO51), Governor Ralph S. Northam declared a state of emergency due to COVID-19, which takes us to March 30, 2020, and Executive Order No. 55, which amends the Amended Order of the Governor and State Health Commissioner Declaration of Public Health Emergency, Order of Public Health Emergency One and Executive Order 53, wherein is stated as follows with respect to Cape Charles Beach, to wit:
To reinforce the Commonwealth’s response to COVID-19 and in furtherance of Executive Orders 51 (March 12, 2020) and 53 (March 23, 2020) and by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article V, Section 7 of the Constitution of Virginia, by §44-146.17 of the Code of Virginia, I order the following:
5. Closure of all public beaches as defined in §10.1-705 of the Code of Virginia for all activity, except exercising and fishing.
Social distancing requirements must be followed
end quotes
According to Virginia Code § 10.1-705, the term “public beach” means a sandy beach located on a tidal shoreline suitable for bathing in a county, city or town and open to indefinite public use.
Given that Cape Charles Beach is a sandy beach located on a tidal shoreline suitable for bathing and open to indefinite public use, including by tourists, we can therefore conclude that Executive Order No. 55 in fact applies to Cape Charles Beach.
But Executive Order No. 55 does not require that you as Cape Charles mayor close off the beach to all uses.
Clearly, Executive Order No. 55, which applies to the public as well as yourself, allows citizens and tourists in your town to be able to use Cape Charles Beach for exercise, which can include jogging, calisthenics and t’ai chi, or yoga, or Pilates, etc., as well as for fishing, so long as people practice social distancing.
That is what the actual Executive Order says, but you seem to be interpreting that language as prohibiting any and all uses of the beach, which would have you in violation of the order while depriving the people of Virginia of the right to use Cape Charles Beach for fishing and exercise afforded to them by that Executive Order.
Given the express language of Executive Order No. 55 affording me the right to use Cape Charles Beach to exercise or fish pursuant to the governor, , how do you as town mayor then justify denying me and all the other people who wish to use Cape Charles Beach to exercise or fish the right to do so granted by the governor?
Does your authority as mayor in a Dillon Rule state exceed his?
Said another way, by what authority do you as Cape Charles mayor exceed the restrictions placed on us by Executive Order No. 55, which you admit above you are required to follow?
If in fact you were complying with Executive Order No. 55, then the Cape Charles Beach would not be closed – it would be open for exercise and fishing.
So what is the deal here, Mr. Mayor?
The candid world that comes to Cape Charles because of the sandy beach which is open to the public would like to know why you are violating Executive Order No. 55 by closing Cape Charles Beach for exercise and fishing.
Smitty dize says
Mr. Plante,
First of all let me say thank you for your service.
The executive order 55 read “public beaches closed except for exercise and fishing” the signs at the beach stated this for a few weeks. The weekend before Memorial Day weekend our officers had to approach many people and ask them to keep moving. The polite signs wasn’t working. So yes, we put beach closed on the high way and coming into town and yes we put harsher language at the beach, which has been removed.
I was just being hones in my post jut like I feel you’re being honest in your post.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Paul Plante says
Yourself as well, Mr. Mayor, and once again, thanks for taking the time to respond to my questions, and to explain your reasoning, although it sounds as if a few, as is so often the case, were ignorant enough to spoil it for everyone else, although I will say after reading all the various manifestos from the governor that his executive orders are ambiguous and unclear.
Consider this from Executive Order No. 55:
1. All individuals in Virginia shall remain at their place of residence, except as provided below by this Order and Executive Order 53.
To the extent individuals use shared or outdoor spaces, whether on land or on water, they must at all times maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person,
end quotes
Have you any clear idea as to what that means when it says “outdoor areas, whether on land or on water?”
Does that prohibit canoeing or kayaking at Cape Charles beach as a form of exercise?
And then we come to this:
1. Individuals may leave their residences for the purpose of:
e. Engaging in outdoor activity, including exercise, provided individuals comply with social distancing requirements.
end quotes
Note that language “engaging in outdoor activity INCLUDING exercise.”
Sitting on the beach and gazing out at the water is indeed an outdoor activity, a very important one, I would say, in this time when it is important to keep one’s immune system functioning as best it can.
From the wording of that part of the order, exercising on the beach is not the only activity allowed, given that the beach is about as “outdoor” as is possible to be.
And then we have this language: “they must at all times maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person, with the exception of family or household members or caretakers …”
So how does that language prohibit a family group from sitting together on the beach as an outdoor activity?
As I read it, it doesn’t!
What sense does it make to keep people weak by confining them to their dwelling, as opposed to keeping them healthy by getting them outside for fresh air and sunlight?
My answer as a former public health engineer is that it makes no sense whatsoever to say to a group of people confined to what is now probably a sweltering confined space breathing stale air and yesterday’s sock odors and bodily emissions, like the foul smells you encounter in nursing homes in Andy Cuomo’s New York state, that it is okay and good for you all to be confined in that space together, while it is bad and harmful for you to sit as a group at the beach as a healthful form of outdoor activity?
In fact, it is irrational and stupid to tell people that, which raises serious questions about the state of “Blackface” Northam’s mental health, as does his donning of blackface back when he was a silly college student.
As to my appreciation of the courtesy of your reply, we live in a day and age where too many “public officials” see themselves as removed from and separate from the citizen body, or body politic, so they feel no need to communicate with the public.
It is nice to see that you are not one of them from the fact that you did take time to respond to me.
And yes, my questions were sincere and were meant to elicit a response, which you were gentleman enough to provide, and yes, everybody can question anybody else.
As a veteran, I have no problem whatsoever with being confronted with questions, and like yourself, do my best to respond.
Doug Luther says
Well, Mr. Dize, I like to say the people in and around Cape Charles wants the beach, restaurants and shops open without ANY restrictions. The power of the people demand this! You have two choices. 1. Be a hero and step up for the people or 2. You can be a lap dog for Ralph. Hero or zero.
This virus is only affecting about 1/100 of a percent of the Virginian population. If you’re scared stay at home. If you’re worried about germs wear a mask. But please do not restrict the rest of us, that want to live free.
And Sir you do have the power. And if you take the time to read everyone’s comments, even if they are long. Then sir you will know how the people truly feel about the situation. It’s the quality of a good leader.
Publius Americanus says
Yes, Paul cuz we all know free speech is predicated upon residency in a certain area.
Wow. Just wow, Smitty.
Embrace those chains.
Tell me, when Ralph KKKNortham tells ya to sacrifice the economic health of your senior citizens, will you sentence them to death like Cuomo, Murphy, Whitmer etc? Cuz it vas an executive order to put zem on zee trains?
Behfel zu behfel, eh Sturmbanfuhrer?
Stuart Bell says
Hear! Hear!!!! I bet he voted for hillary the coonman and bath-house barry. Small fish is a small pond.
Smitty Dize says
I don’t make excuses and truthfully I don’t think you’ve ever sent me an email on my Mayors email address. I think you have replied to a couple of emails that I have sent you. I may be wrong on that but I can’t recall it. If you sent it to my gmail account, I haven’t looked at that in 8 months.
As far as doing our jobs, I was always taught to never knock a man until you walk in his footsteps. Just saying and I know I couldn’t do what you do either and I rarely ever knock you.
Stuart Bell says
Bless your Heart. ‘Historic’? now that is precious!
Klinefelter says
Cape charles beach still closed this weekend because your council and mayor didn’t take the appropriate steps to put a plan in place to open. These are your elected officials, make sure to let them know you appreciate the fantastic job they’re doing.
Paul Plante says
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
Department of Health
M. Norman Oliver, MD
Commissioner of Health
A State of Emergency Has Been Declared for Virginia in Response to COVID-19
Update on COVID-19
February 27, 2020
Dear Colleague,
The novel coronavirus outbreak that began in Wuhan, China continues to rapidly evolve.
On February 11, 2020, the virus was officially named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2), and the World Health Organization (WHO) named the disease coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
On January 30, the WHO declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern.”
On January 31, Health and Human Services Secretary, Alex M. Azar II, declared a public health emergency.
On February 7, Virginia State Health Commissioner, Dr. M. Norman Oliver, declared COVID-19 a Communicable Disease of Public Health Threat for Virginia.
On February 24, the WHO reported over 79,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases globally.
The vast majority of cases to date are in China.
Although most cases outside of China are travel-related, community spread of the virus is now being detected in a growing number of countries, including Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
At this time, person-to-person spread in the United States appears to be limited, but Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends planning at all levels for the eventuality of community spread in the United States.
As of February 25, CDC issued a Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel notice for China and South Korea.
A Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions notice has been issued for Japan, Iran and Italy and a watch Level 1 has been issued for Hong Kong.
The CDC also recommends that all travelers reconsider cruise ship voyages to or within Asia.
This is a rapidly evolving situation, so please refer to the CDC website for the most up-to-date travel information, and obtain a detailed travel history for patients with fever or acute respiratory illness.
The CDC recently published clinical guidance for management of patients with COVID-19 and guidance for risk assessment and public health management of healthcare personnel with potential exposure in a healthcare setting to patients with COVID-19.
Additionally, CDC has developed a real-time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) test that can diagnose COVID-19 in respiratory specimens.
On February 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization to enable use of this test at any CDC-qualified laboratory across the country, including the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS).
The DCLS will validate that assay and then implement COVID-19 rRT-PCR testing in-house.
The success of any response to a public health threat like the one posed by COVID-19 depends on how quickly and effectively we can mobilize our public health workforce and Medical Reserve Corps volunteers.
If you are willing to volunteer to support the COVID-19 response, if needed, please register to become a Virginia Medical Reserve Corps volunteer at http://www.vamrc.org/vvhs or email vamrc@vdh.virginia.gov.
Clinicians are advised to visit the VDH Novel Coronavirus webpage for the most up-to-date guidance and current surveillance statistics in Virginia.
Additionally, please visit the CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) webpage for more information on this evolving situation.
These webpages are updated as new information becomes available.
Sincerely,
M. Norman Oliver, MD, MA
State Health Commissioner
BRANDTRADER says
WE BEACHES B OPEN…………COME ON DOWN..!!!!!!!!!!!!
tokenny says
Paul, you are so far on the side of wrong that you can’t even see where you went wrong. If you believe the Mayor has over-stepped his bounds, sue the town! Oh, that’s right you don’t live in the town. Ah, don’t live in Virginia either. Guess you have no standing there in Court. You could boycott the town and the beach …right… you haven’t stepped in town since the ferry stopped. Hmm, probably couldn’t get from Kelly’s to the beach without using Google maps. Maybe you should check on the beaches of the Finger Lakes, that’s a battle you could fight.
Your’re no Clarence Darrow or Ironsides for that matter (gave you a reference you could relate to) Sunbathing an Outdoor activity? LOL. Yes it occurs outdoors but an activity it’s not. I even checked with your number one reference Wikipedia and they don’t list it as an “outdoor activity” and using another favorite of yours I checked Websters dictionary for the definition of activity and like you I decided to be a copy/paste master. (not worth typing)
1. the quality or state of being active : behavior or actions of a particular kind
physical activity
criminal activity
economic activity
2: vigorous or energetic action : LIVELINESS a scene of excitement and activity
3: natural or normal function: such as
a: a process (such as digestion) that an organism carries on or participates in by virtue of being alive
b: a similar process actually or potentially involving mental function
specifically : an educational procedure designed to stimulate learning by firsthand experience
4: an active force
5a: a pursuit in which a person is active
business activities
social activities
b: a form of organized, supervised, often extracurricular recreation
The camp offers hiking, swimming, and other activities.
6: an organizational unit for performing a specific function
also : its function or duties
the restaurant inspection activity of the health department
And didn’t you somewhere in all your drivel here say that we are a nation of laws? Is it a cafeteria plan? Are we able to pick which one we follow and which one we don’t?
Stuart Bell says
I asked you to post your real name or explain why you are afraid to.
Man up Son, you have been called out.
tokenny says
Blah, blah, blah. I see you are working out those internet muscles again Stuart. May I ask why we should believe your name is Stuart Bell? Because you told us it is? LOL
What proof will you supply?
If you want you can call me Mr Chips or you can call me Ishmael or you can call me Ray, or you can call me J, or you can call me Johnny, or you can call me Sonny, or you can call me Junie, or you can call me Junior; now you can call me Ray J, or you can call me RJ, or you can call me RJJ, or you can call me RJJ Jr. . .”
Ray Otton says
I’m right here.
s’up?
Stuart Bell says
I asked you to post your real name or explain why you are afraid to.
Man up Son, you have been called out, again.
tokenny says
Stuart, when you actually understand the meaning of empathy and come to realize that the world isn’t broken down into liberal/conservative or democratic and republican then ‘ll be glad to tell you my name.
I think it’s safe to say I won’t be telling you anytime soon.
Stuart Bell says
You Sir, are a coward.
Paul Plante says
tokenny!
My goodness, what a surprise to see you in here attacking me as you have done above here.
My goodness, who’d a thought that kind of ill-mannered conduct coming from you, the consummate epitome of the traditional Virginia gentleman of yore.
Perhaps some COVID found your olfactory nerves after burrowing deep into your nasal cavities as it has been known to do and now is up there in your brain, chewing up your mental connections so your thought processes no longer work as effectively as they once might have done.
Or perhaps it is the combination of sweltering heat in the hole you are hiding in until “Blackface” Northam gives you the all-clear so you can finally see the light of day again, coupled with all that stale air you are breathing over and over, combined with the odor of your dirty socks which is making you l8ighyt-headed from all the concentrated CO2 that is in there with you.
Once the levels are up to and over 2,000 ppm, poor concentration and loss of attention are the result, or so says science, anyway.
Do yourself a huge favor, and open up some windows and get some fresh air in there with you is my thought, anyway.
You are taking “Blackface” Northam’s order to stay inside your dwelling far too seriously, and it is affecting not only your physical health, but your mental health, as well.
Moving right along, and by the way, while Ignorantia Facti Excusat, the Latin legal maxim that means ignorance of a fact is an excuse, ignorance of law is not an excuse, and that applies to common citizens like you and I, so when you mutter that I am so far on the side of wrong that I can’t even see where I went wrong, it is in fact you who are wrong in making that assertion, because quite obviously, along with your total ignorance of the facts here, you7 are also quite ignorant of the law, as well, so shame on you, tokenny, which brings us to this humorous inanity of yours from your dialectic above here, to wit:
“If you believe the Mayor has over-stepped his bounds, sue the town!”
end quotes
Why would I sue the Mayor, when the Mayor is gentleman enough to come in here to discuss his reasoning, and tokenny, the gentleman is the mayor, not a medical or public health professional, so he can be excused if he lacks knowledge in those fields as to the harm to the immune systems of elderly people that chronic stress of social isolation does?
When you can have a reasonable discussion with a gentleman like the Cape Charles Mayor, why on earth would you bypass that avenue and jump to the litigious avenue, instead?
What rational purpose would that serve?
Isn’t it easier to do what I am doing in here, taking the opportunity afforded me by the Cape Charles Mirror to have a direct conversation and discussion with the Mayor?
I thought so, anyway.
And moving right along, we come to tokenny inanty No. 2, as follows:
“Your’re (sic.) no Clarence Darrow or Ironsides for that matter.”
end quotes
We’re not talking about monkeys in here, tokenny, so what on earth do I need to be a Clarence Darrow for?
We’re talking public health, something I am far more qualified to talk about than either Clarence Darrow, who was merely a lawyer who never completed college with no qualification in the field of medicine or public health, or Ironsides, for that matter, who so far as I can recall, was also only a lawyer.
And again, tokenny, we are talking about protecting the health of the public here, not whether monkeys are early human beings or not, so I see no value to this discussion going down through all that cutting and pasting you have done, because it is meaningless.
And as an aside, tokenny, fully fifty percent of the lawyers who go to court every day lose, which is not all that good a record, and I have won more court cases, including at the appellate level, than many lawyers, which is a fact, so please, don’t try to impress me with lawyers, who I have found to be some of the most stupid and ignorant people I have ever encountered when it comes to knowledge of the law.
Most of them seem to be nothing more than bull******* in pin-stripe shoes with huge egos and small minds, which puts some teeth in that old saying that “those who can, do, while those who can’t go to law school, instead.”
Looking at this from the perspective of a public health professional who was twice commended in writing by then-New York State Health Commissioner Dr. David Axelrod for my integrity (I wouldn’t take bribes to give approvals) and my knowledge of the public health laws, and adherence thereto, what “Blackface” Northam is ordering here in Virginia and specifically in Cape Charles has no bearing on protecting the health and well-being of the citizens of the Commonwealth, and especially the elderly portion, and tokenny, they are Americans and I am an American, and as an elderly person here in America, I have every right to speak out on their behalf and I don’t need to live in Cape Charles or know how to get to Kelly’s to do so, nor do his orders make any sense at all, UNLESS his objective is to cause harm to the elderly and kill them off.
And that is what the Mayor, a true gentleman, and I have been discussing – why is the town of Cape Charles taking actions that are inimical (tending to obstruct or harm) to the health of the people of the town?
His reply, which I accept, is that he fears the wrath (my words) of “Blackface” Northam if he doesn’t kowtow (again, my words).
If anybody should be suing “Blackface” Northam, it really should be the Mayor.
This whole thing is a political farce from front to back, tokenny, a power grab plain and simple, although you probably can’t see that, in your own ignorance here, and it makes a complete mockery of what the field of public health exists for, which is again something you wouldn’t know.
And thanks for giving me the opportunity to make that point clear in here.
So why is “Blackface” Northam trying to kill the elderly in Virginia, in the guise of protecting them from COVID?
And why is he requiring the Mayor of Cape Charles to be his hence-man (a faithful follower or political supporter, especially one prepared to engage in crime or dishonest practices by way of service, as in “the dictator’s henchman”) in that endeavor?
And as someone who swore an oath to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia, why should the Mayor willingly go along with him in that endeavor?
This is America, afterall, not Nazi Germany.
We are a nation of laws, afterall, aren’t we?
Or is it a cafeteria plan where “Blackface” Northam is able to pick which ones he follows and which ones he doesn’t?
tokenny says
Blah, Blah, Blah. I don’t see the Republicans challenging him in court … so must all be legal. You can stop beating the drum, it’s getting old. Isn’t it time for your nap now?
Paul Plante says
tokenny, let me reiterate what a pleasure it is to wake up in the morning with coffee cup at hand to find some more inane and sophomoric commentary from yourself to respond to.
And what is your obsession with “Republicans.”
Why do you see everything in life through the binary lens of “Democrat v. Republican?”
Between them they account for less than half the people in America, which would include myself, who isn’t either and has absolutely no use for either.
As to lawsuits filed against “Blackface” Northam’s dictatorial decrees, you obviously haven’t been keeping up with the news, have you.
“Justice Department backs pastor challenging Va. Gov. Northam’s social distancing order”
“There is no pandemic exception to the Constitution and its Bill of Rights,” the Justice Department said in court papers.
May 4, 2020, 6:02 PM EDT / Updated May 4, 2020, 6:06 PM EDT
By Pete Williams
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is siding with a rural Virginia church that sued the state’s governor after the pastor was charged with violating a social distancing order.
The government filed court papers Sunday in support of Lighthouse Fellowship Church in Chincoteague on Virginia’s eastern shore, which said the state improperly discriminated by insisting that the church permit no more than 10 people to attend services while allowing businesses to accommodate larger groups.
“The Commonwealth cannot treat religious gatherings less favorably than other similar secular gatherings,” the Justice Department said in its submission.
end quotes
And there is another lawsuit filed in Culpeper County against “Ol’ Blackface” by a group of people including Merrill C. “Sandy” Hall and several other owners of health clubs to challenge the orders.
Stuart Bell says
Again, you ridicule a veteran.
Post your real name or tell me why you are afraid to.
Paul Plante says
tokenny is here to provide comic relief, Stuart, as well to give me some great segues.
Basically, he is quite harmless, and having been spit at by the screaming, howling mob acting like zoo animals at the airport in California when I got back from VEET NAM, I’m used to being treated with contempt by the civilians in this country who want people like you and I to shed our blood for them so they can feel safe and secure knowing it is somebody else dying for the country as opposed to them.
Paul Plante says
tokenny, since you have done us all the huge favor here of shining a high-intensity spotlight on the actions of the Mayor of Cape Charles with respect to this COVID CIRCUS, which is exactly what it is, let’s go to the record and lay out a factual timeline of relevant events leading up to the actions of the Mayor which have been under question in here.
First off, the key date in this chain of events related to COVID is 8 January 2020, which is when the Virginia State Health Commissioner was notified by the CDC of the existence of COVID in China.
The next relevant event in that timeline with respect to the Commonwealth, and consequently, Cape Charles, is 7 February 2020, almost a month later, at which time, the State Health Commissioner of Virginia declared novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a disease of public health threat.
Thereafter, on March 7, 2020, a full month later, the Virginia Department of Health issued a press release which stated thusly:
First Virginia Case of COVID-19 Confirmed at Fort Belvoir.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 7, 2020
Media Contact: Maria Reppas, Director of Communications, maria.reppas@vdh.virginia.gov
(RICHMOND, VA.) – A U.S. Marine at Fort Belvoir has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, Virginia health officials confirmed today.
Governor Northam and Cabinet officials have been briefed.
Officials at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital and the Virginia Department of Health are working cooperatively, according to longstanding public health protocols.
The teams are in regular and close communication with federal, state, local, and private sector partners.
Public health officials caution that evidence has not been seen of COVID-19 spreading in Virginia and said the risk is low.
end quotes
Now, tokenny, focus in on the words “(P)ublic health officials caution that evidence has not been seen of COVID-19 spreading in Virginia and said the risk is low.”
That is on 7 March 2020.
Now, seriously, tokenny, do you truly need to have a JD from Harvard or be a Clarence Darrow to be able to comprehend what the Virginia Health Department was telling the people of the Commonwealth and Cape Charles, including the Mayor when they said that evidence has not been seen of COVID-19 spreading in Virginia and the risk is low?
And of course you don’t, because that message was to the general public, including the Mayor of Cape Charles and the people of Cape Charles and was intended to be read and understood by somebody with nothing more than a high school education – be calm, people, nothing to see here, nothing to worry about, go about your business as usual because the experts at the Virginia Department of Health do not see COVID as a serious threat, which is what the words “THE RISK IS LOW” mean to me, anyway.
And here we have to go back in time for a moment to July 19, 2019 to get a more clear picture here, because while COVID was not deemed to be a serious threat, the people of Virginia and Cape Charles were hardly in the clear as we see from this press release from the Virginia Department of Health, to wit:
“Virginia Department of Health Warns Residents of Increase in Respiratory Illnesses”
July 19, 2019
For More Information Contact
Lorrie Andrew-Spear – 703-530-2627 – Lorrie.Andrew-Spear@VDH.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of Health Warns Residents of Increase in Respiratory Illnesses – Anyone Experiencing Difficulty Breathing Should Seek Medical Care
(Richmond, Va.) – Since the end of flu season in May, the Virginia Department of Health has received increased reports of respiratory (breathing) illness across the Commonwealth greater than observed in previous summers.
Most of the reports have occurred among older adults and those with chronic medical conditions in assisted living and long-term care facilities.
The reports involve different regions of the state and different diseases, including pertussis (whooping cough), influenza, Haemophilus influenzae infection, Legionnaire’s disease, and pneumonia caused by rhinovirus or human metapneumovirus.
“A variety of germs cause respiratory illness, some with increased activity in summer months” said State Health Commissioner M. Norman Oliver, MD, MA.
“We encourage everyone to take steps to minimize the severity and prevent spreading illness to others.”
Dr. Oliver continued, “To avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others, it is important to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing.”
“To help prevent the spread of germs, avoid close contact with people who are sick.”
“Anyone who is sick should stay home, except when seeking medical care.”
“If you develop difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, immediately seek medical care.”
Certain groups are especially vulnerable for developing severe respiratory illness, including young children, adults 65 years or older, those with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and heart conditions) and those with weakened immune systems.
end quotes
Doesn’t that sound very much like what is being attributed to COVID today?
But no emergency was declared, and no executive orders requiring people to stay indoors and wear masks were issued by Ralph Northam, despite the obvious threat caused to older people in Virginia from pertussis (whooping cough), influenza, Haemophilus influenzae infection, Legionnaire’s disease, and pneumonia caused by rhinovirus or human metapneumovirus, nor were any businesses ordered closed and no beaches were ordered closed, as well, despite the fact that since the end of flu season in May of 2019, one year ago now, the Virginia Department of Health had received increased reports of respiratory (breathing) illness across the Commonwealth greater than observed in previous summers with most of the reports having occurred among older adults and those with chronic medical conditions in assisted living and long-term care facilities.
And that brings us back forwards in time to the next relevant event in this record, which occurs on March 12, 2020, five (5) days AFTER COVID was not deemed by the experts at the Virginia Department of Health to be a serious threat, when Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam declared a state of emergency due to COVID-19 in Executive Order No. 51, wherein was stated thusly, to wit:
NUMBER FIFTY-ONE (2020) DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY DUE TO NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
Importance of the Issue
The Commonwealth of Virginia is monitoring an outbreak of a respiratory illness referred to as the coronavirus (COVID-19), which has spread from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China to more than 80 other locations internationally, including the Commonwealth.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has been working with local, state, and federal officials, healthcare and emergency management experts, and various state agencies to form a COVID-19 Taskforce to prepare for and respond to this threat.
Given recent confirmed occurrences of COVID-19 within the Commonwealth and in neighboring states, as well as information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is anticipated that the disease will spread.
Therefore, on this date, March 12, 2020, I declare that a state of emergency exists in the Commonwealth of Virginia to continue to prepare and coordinate our response to the potential spread of COVID-19, a communicable disease of public health threat.
The anticipated effects of COVID-19 constitute a disaster as described in § 44-146.16 of the Code of Virginia (Code).
By virtue of the authority vested in me by Article V, Section 7 of the Constitution of Virginia, by §§ 44-146.17 and 44-75.1 of the Code, as Governor and Director of Emergency Management and Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth’s armed forces, I proclaim a state of emergency.
end quotes
So, tokenny, on 7 March 2020, there is one case of COVID in Virginia and public health officials in Virginia were cautioning the people of Virginia and Cape Charles including the Mayor that evidence has not been seen of COVID-19 spreading in Virginia, saying the risk is low, and five days later, there is Ralph Northam as the Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth’s armed forces, including its, Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard declaring an emergency that has destroyed people’s lives and livelihoods.
Is it just me, or is something sounding a bit fishy here and not quite right?
Any thoughts from yourself as a public health expert on the matter?