Northam: Va. to receive COVID-19 vaccine in 24 to 48 hours

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Virginia will receive its first allotment of a federally-approved COVID-19 vaccine in the next 24 to 48 hours, Governor Ralph Northam said on Saturday.

After the Pfizer vaccine arrives, it will immediately be distributed to health care workers and long-term care facilities, the governor said in a tweet. The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, authorized emergency use of the vaccine on Friday.

“Together with @VDHgov, we have been preparing for this moment since the spring,” Northam said in a Dec. 12 tweet.

Together with @VDHgov, we have been preparing for this moment since the spring.

We expect to receive our first allotment of the @pfizer #COVID19 vaccine in the next 24 to 48 hours, and will immediately begin distribution to our health care workers and long-term care facilities. https://t.co/j16NbDp7cR
— Governor Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) December 12, 2020

Northam enacted new measures last week to stop the spread of COVID-19. A curfew, expanded mask mandate and a 10-person limit at social gatherings go into effect on Monday, Dec. 14. For more information on the restrictions, click this link.

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reported 278,615 total coronavirus cases throughout the state Saturday, a 4,177 case increase in 24 hours. The state totals stand at 4,409 deaths with 15,967 hospitalizations since the pandemic began.

A total of 3,670,781 tests have been given throughout the state. The 7-day PCR testing positivity rate is currently 10.9%, which has nearly doubled in the last month.

The trends in Virginia are better than most of the country, but the truth is, the virus is surging everywhere.

New daily #COVID19 cases are higher now than at any point in the pandemic.

Statewide test positivity is around 11 percent—that’s almost doubled in just one month. pic.twitter.com/sfWWvyK0eZ
— Governor Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) December 11, 2020