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Debate in Virginia over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

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These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.


Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.

These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.


This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Virginia in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:


Debate over stay-at-home orders in Virginia

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Virginia.

  • ReOpen Virginia (NBC 12): The group Reopen Virginia organized a protest on April 16, 2020, regarding an extension of the state's stay-at-home order.

    "Government mandating sick people to stay home is called quarantine. However, the government mandating healthy citizens to stay home, forcing businesses and churches to close is called tyranny. Business owners are being forced to layoff employees while the unemployment system is failing those laid off as the economy free falls. This is a recipe for disaster with many in our society helpless." - "Protesters gather at Virginia Capitol to demand end to state’s lockdown," April 16, 2020.

  • State Del. Danica Roem (D) (Potomac Local Media): "Small business owners are hurting, and there are people who are trying to pay their bills. I completely get it. Until we see a steady decline in hospitalizations and deaths over a two-week period, if you reopen the state, you’re going to exacerbate the problem." - "Protesters plan rally to reopen Virginia economy as state sees fewer new coronavirus cases," April 20, 2020.

  • State Del. Mark Cole (R) (Potomac Local Media): "The numbers show that the death rate for the virus is very low and most people that catch the virus will recover without any serious issues. They should be allowed to get back to work. I fear Governor Northam’s restrictions are pushing many people into poverty, which has worse health consequences than the virus." - "Protesters plan rally to reopen Virginia economy as state sees fewer new coronavirus cases," April 20, 2020.

  • House Republican Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, Caucus Chair Kathy Byron, and Caucus Whip Jay Leftwich (WHSV): "Virginians are an industrious and creative people. In the weeks since all this began, we’ve seen some amazing efforts to improvise, adapt, and overcome. Businesses that have even the smallest ability to continue to serve their customers have been creative and found a way to keep the lights on — and keep their customers and employees safe at the same time. Hundreds of thousands of Virginians are hurting right now. They’re scared, and they need something to hold on to. People need hope. They need to know that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, that this nightmare is going to end. Governor Northam should trust Virginians. Set some broad ground rules, utilize experts to allow more businesses to safely adapt to these circumstances, and let Virginians do what they do best — innovate and overcome. Flattening the curve and getting back to work don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Republicans stand ready to help." - "Gov. Northam extends business closures, calls for Virginians to adapt to 'new normal'," April 15, 2020.

  • Gov. Ralph Northam (D) (WTVR): "We need to be clear. Things are not going back exactly like they were before. Together we will figure out how to build it. A new normal right now, that new normal will probably look like covering your face, spending more time at home, teleworking, if you can continue to use social distancing." - "Governor extends restrictions on gatherings, non-essential businesses," April 15, 2020.

  • Gov. Ralph Northam (D) (Virginia Governor's Office): "We are in a public health crisis, and we need everyone to take this seriously and act responsibly. Our message to Virginians is clear: stay home. We know this virus spreads primarily through human-to-human contact, and that’s why it’s so important that people follow this order and practice social distancing." - "Governor Northam Issues Statewide Stay at Home Order," March 30, 2020.


Debate over reopening in Virginia

See also: Debate over reopening during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on reopening in Virginia.

  • Chris Gentilviso, Richmond Times-Dispatch columnist (Richmond Times-Dispatch): "The activities and the behaviors are the focus of our attention — the mallgoers who comply with or defy the order to use a face covering in a department store or public restroom; the protesters who have spent hours chanting in close proximity to hundreds of people; and the businesses making real efforts to create safe spaces, versus others taking a more lax approach." - "Cautionary tales of reopening amid COVID-19," June 17, 2020.

  • Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial Board (Richmond Times-Dispatch): "When people don’t cover their faces in public, they’re posing a threat to the health of others. Wearing a mask offers a simple solution to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus during this public health crisis." - "Editorial: Wear a mask and help contain COVID-19," May 26, 2020.


Debate over testing in Virginia

See also: Debate over testing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the testing in Virginia.

  • Virginian Pilot-Daily Press Editorial Board (Virginian Pilot-Daily Press): "Virginia continues to show signs of progress in its fight against the disease. The commonwealth has greatly improved its testing capacity, though its sluggish start means it still ranks 39th nationally in per-capita testing, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. And the COVID Tracking Project now gives Virginia an A+ in data quality, which is an improvement." - "Protesters need to get COVID tests," June 9, 2020.


Debate over protests in Virginia

See also: Debate over protests during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the protests in Virginia.

  • Gov. Ralph Northam (D) (Politico): "I'm just as anxious as anybody else to open up our economy. We don't need protesters to encourage me and anybody else to ease these restrictions. … What they're doing at the end of the day — which I think is so selfish — they're putting our health care providers, those that are in the trenches trying to save lives every day, they're putting them at risk, and that's wrong. I would ask them to think about that" - "'So selfish': Northam raps anti-quarantine protesters," April 20, 2020.


Debate over school closures in Virginia

See also: Debate over school closures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in Virginia.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over religious service restrictions in Virginia

See also: Debate over religious service restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in Virginia.

In Virginia, the debate has focused on Executive Order 55 (EO 55), which Gov. Ralph Northam (D) issued on March 30, 2020. EO 55 prohibited public and private in-person gatherings of more than 10 individuals, including for religious events.[1] Enforcement of EO 55 resulted in Kevin Wilson, the pastor of Lighthouse Fellowship Church, being cited for exceeding the 10-person maximum for in-person gatherings. Lighthouse Fellowship Church sued Gov. Ralph Northam (D) in the case Lighthouse Fellowship Church v. Northam.

  • U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. District Court of Eastern Virginia): The U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement in the case Lighthouse Fellowship Church v. Northam. Lighthouse Fellowship Church sued Gov. Ralph Northam (D) after the church's pastor, Kevin Wilson, was cited for violating the group size order for holding a church service with 16 people in attendance.

    "The United States believes that the church has set forth a strong case that the Orders, by exempting other activities permitting similar opportunities for in-person gatherings of more than 10 individuals, while at the same time prohibiting churches from gathering in groups of more than 10 — even with social distancing measures and other precautions — has impermissibly interfered with the church’s free exercise of religion." - "Lighthouse Fellowship Church v. Northam," May 3, 2020.

  • Vice President Mike Pence (R) (The Virginian-Pilot): Vice President Mike Pence (R) commented on the Justice Department's involvement in the case Lighthouse Fellowship Church v. Northam.

    "The very idea that the Commonwealth of Virginia would sanction a church for having 16 people come to a Palm Sunday service, when I think the church actually seats about 250, was just beyond the pale, and I’m truly grateful for Attorney General William Barr standing by religious liberty." - "Pence weighs in as Virginia defends Northam’s restrictions in Eastern Shore church’s lawsuit," May 7, 2020.

  • Solicitor General Toby Heytens (Politico): Solicitor General Toby Heytens, representing Gov. Northam in Lighthouse Fellowship Church v. Northam, responded to the U.S. Department of Justice's position in the case.

    "Not all executive orders issued to address the threat of Covid-19 are the same, and those issued by Governor Northam do not operate in the manner Plaintiff [Lighthouse Fellowship Church] and the Federal Government describe. … Just as ‘there is no pandemic exception to the ... Bill of Rights,’ there are likewise no exceptions to the Eleventh Amendment or the limitations of Article III." - "Feds, Northam spar over Virginia stay-at-home order’s impact on churches," May 3, 2020.

  • Mat Staver, chairman of Liberty Counsel (Fox News): Liberty Counsel is a nonprofit law firm representing Lighthouse Fellowship Church in the case Lighthouse Fellowship Church v. Northam.

    "Governor Ralph Northam has clearly discriminated against Lighthouse Fellowship Church which provides essential physical, emotional and spiritual services to the community. This church does not have internet and cannot flip a switch to broadcast online. Even if it could go online, many of the people the church serves do not have internet. Pastor Wilson protected the health and safety of the 16 people that attended on Palm Sunday by requiring them to be spread far apart in the sanctuary. But because the church had six more people than the 10 allowed by the governor, the pastor is being criminally charged. We must balance the First Amendment with protecting the health and welfare of people but picking an arbitrary number of 10 people for every church is not the answer." - "Virginia Gov. Northam sued by pastor facing fine, jail for holding 16-person service," April 27, 2020.

  • Mary Vought, executive director of the Senate Conservatives Fund (The Washington Post): "In many ways, the right to religious liberty stands as the first American freedom, the first freedom listed in the Bill of Rights. Churches that abide by social distancing and similar practices not only engage in good hygiene by caring for each other, but they also practice their faith, following Jesus’ instruction to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. Once they do, civil authorities should allow these gatherings to proceed and let Christians render unto God the things that are God’s." - "With appropriate distancing measures, Virginia churches should be allowed to conduct services," May 8, 2020.


Debate over election policy in Virginia

See also: Debate over election policies and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in Virginia.

  • Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney (D) (Richmond Times-Dispatch): "The challenge presented to nearly every aspect of our lives by the COVID-19 pandemic also presents a challenge to safeguarding one of the fundamental elements of our democracy — the ability to hold elections and cast a ballot in those elections. … Fortunately, we have at our disposal the means to prevent the coronavirus pandemic from claiming the ability to vote as yet another victim. The vaccine is to enact universal voting by mail — a process by which nearly all voters could cast ballots from home. This will protect Virginia’s Election Day workers and residents while increasing voter participation in the commonwealth." - "Levar M. Stoney Column: Universal voting by mail is the vaccine to COVID-19’s impact on Virginia’s elections," April 13, 2020.


Debate over firearm businesses in Virginia

See also: Debate over firearm businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on firearm businesses in Virginia.

  • Judge F. Patrick Yeatts (Virginia 24th Judicial Circuit): On April 27, 2020, Judge F. Patrick Yeatts of the 24th Judicial Circuit issued an injunction in the case Lynchburg Range and Training, LLC, et al. v. Northam. Lynchburg Range and Training, LLC, Virginia Citizens Defense League, Gun Owners of America, Inc., and Association of Virginia Gun Ranges argued that Northam's executive order that closed nonessential businesses should not have included firearm ranges. Judge Yeatts agreed with the plaintiffs in his injunction.

    "The plaintiffs have demonstrated a depravation of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms, financial hardship for the business and employees, and lack of training access for its customers. There is also a risk in having new, untrained gun owners relying on those guns in self-defense without previously having had an opportunity to fire them at a range." - "Lynchburg Range & Training, LLC, et al. v. Northam," April 27, 2020.

  • Attorney General Mark Herring (D) (The Washington Post): Attorney General Mark Herring (D), representing the governor, responded to Judge F. Patrick Yeatts’s injunction that allowed firearm ranges to reopen in Virginia.

    "Governor Northam’s efforts to save lives and slow the spread of COVID-19 are necessary and proving to be effective, but unfortunately, the gun lobby believes the ability to shoot a gun indoors during this pandemic is worth risking further spread of the virus and making Virginia communities and families less safe." - "Va. gun range wins first victory against order requiring businesses to close," April 27, 2020.


Responses to the coronavirus in Virginia

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Virginia)
Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in Virginia.

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Virginia Governor, "Executive Orders," accessed May 8, 2020
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