HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) On Friday, 10 On Your Side met with Gov. Ralph Northam while he was at Fort Monroe in Hampton. <\/p>\n
10 On Your Sides Andy Fox asked Northam some of the pressing questions, including why it took so long to launch a statewide vaccination registration system, and why some health districts still dont have directors during a pandemic. <\/p>\n
And finally, the question that many Americans are also wondering: When can the masks come off? <\/p>\n
There are 10 healthdistricts in Virginiawhere the director isforcedto dodouble duty and manage multiple departments.That includes Dr.Demetria Lindsay,who isdistrict health director for Virginia Beach and Norfolk.<\/p>\n
There are nine other directors just like Lindsay. Hampton and Newport News share a district health director, as do Portsmouth and the Western Tidewater Health District, which covers 1,500 square miles.<\/p>\n
This pandemicis the likes we have never seen in decades,so we have been stretched thin, the governor said when 10 On Your Side inquired about the shortage of directors.<\/p>\n
Some critics argue everything appears thin,from vaccinations to leadership at the top of some health districts.<\/p>\n
We asked thegovernor why,during the worst global health crisis of our lifetime, do we have so many health districts without their own director? Does it look like we are not prepared?<\/p>\n
Well,wevemade a lot ofmodifications. Wearein a very good place now compared to a year ago. We still have alot of work to do, Northam acknowledged.<\/p>\n
And why donthealth districts,especially larger urbanones, havetheir own leadership?<\/p>\n
The governor did not give a why when asked by 10 On Your Side.<\/p>\n
10 On Your Side also pressed Northamabout therocky start to the statewide pre-registration vaccination website that crashed the morning it was launched. People in droves complained to WAVY.com.<\/p>\n
As the site crashed, those residents also couldnt get their answers because Virginialaunched a help hotlinethe day after they launched the pre-registrationsite.<\/p>\n
What about those issues?<\/p>\n
We have had over300,000who havesuccessfully enrolled,and wehave transferred information from those who haveenrolledpreviouslythroughthehealthdepartmentinto the new system, Northam said.<\/p>\n
So, is therelight at the end of the long, dark COVID-19 tunnel?<\/p>\n
We havebeen at this a year. Numbersshowwe are moving in the right direction.Our positivity rates are going down, our number of vaccinations are going up, he said.<\/p>\n
What about thisquestion: When does he think the masks can comeoff?<\/p>\n
Hopefully, byearlyor mid-summer, we willhave folksvaccinatedand getto the herd immunity that we need to put COVID-19 in the rear-view mirror, he said.<\/p>\n
But when will we be able to not wear masks anymore?<\/p>\n
As theGovernor walkedaway to the next meeting, he declined to say. <\/p>\n
Ill call you and let you know, Andy.In themeantime,keep it on.he told Andy Fox.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
More here:<\/p>\n
Gov. Northam takes questions on COVID-19 issues including about when he thinks masks can come off - WAVY.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) On Friday, 10 On Your Side met with Gov. Ralph Northam while he was at Fort Monroe in Hampton. Continue reading