Gov Youngkin's COVID Action Plan

Governor Glenn Youngkin

COVID-19 Action Plan

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has led to rapidly increasing infections and hospitalizations. While it often results in less severe illness, its preponderance and rapid spread - combined with severe staffing shortages and test shortages - is straining our health care system. Our health systems are heavily relying on temporary staffing arrangements to meet the ongoing demand, and many are operating under contingency and crisis standards of care.

Governor Glenn Youngkin will continue to lead in the fight against COVID-19, applying both science and commonsense to make sure that we can protect both lives and livelihoods. Governor Youngkin is taking decisive action to ensure that we keep Virginians healthy and keep our Commonwealth open for business.

COVID-19 VACCINE MARSHALL PLAN FOR VIRGINIA

Governor Glenn Youngkin will devote additional resources and efforts to encouraging the nearly 1.6 million Virginians who are still unvaccinated to get the COVID-19 vaccine and booster. Data shows that people vaccinated from COVID-19 are 4 times less likely to be hospitalized than those who are not. Governor Youngkin’s actions include:

1. Directing the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to re-prioritize resources toward vaccine education and outreach, including expanded efforts in disproportionately unvaccinated communities
2. Plans to host 120 COVID-19 vaccine events across the Commonwealth and Direct the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to devote additional resources to future events
3. Deploying additional Mobile Vaccine Units to rural communities
4. Working with Governors across the country to identify and utilize best practices on vaccine education
5. Empowering Virginians with choices, not mandates

EXPANDED  HEALTH CARE FLEXIBILITY, SUPPORT,  & TREATMENT

Virginia’s hospitals and health care facilities are in crisis.  Governor Glenn Youngkin signed Executive Order #11 to give health care providers flexibility and support to battle staffing shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and unconstitutional federal mandates on health care workers. Governor Youngkin’s actions include:

1. Creating appropriate exemptions to scope of practice requirements to allow health care providers to care for patients in this difficult time
2. Allowing hospitals and nursing homes to rapidly expand bed capacity by temporarily waiving regulations
3. Expanding flexibility, overtime hours, and availability for personal care workers
4. Providing flexibility for licensed out-of-state nurses and health care professionals to practice in Virginia
5. Redirecting resources to assist with the access and availability of therapeutics and expanding the number of providers available to offer oral therapeutics, including allowing therapeutics to be distributed at hospitals without onsite pharmacies
6. Ensure appropriate reimbursement for innovative treatment solutions for individuals, including telemedicine, including safe at home programs that allow individuals with mild symptoms to receive care remotely
7. Deploying the Commonwealth’s supply of personal protective equipment
8. Encouraging blood donation and providing support to the Red Cross to support emergency and planned surgeries