By Connie Morrison —
As of Sunday morning, May 3, Accomack county had 400 confirmed COVID-19 cases and Northampton had 134. There have been six deaths related to COVID-19 in Accomack and one in Northampton, and a combined 25 hospitalizations — 21 in Accomack and four in Northampton.
The new cases place Accomack and Northampton in the second and third highest rates of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents on the commonwealth at 1,234 and 1,142, respectively. Richmond County has the highest case rate with 1,604 cases per 100,000.
Accomack County issued a press release Thursday saying it was monitoring conditions related to COVID-19 in the county, but its ability to do anything is limited beyond voicing local concerns to state officials and local businesses to protect employees and citizens from the virus’ spread.
“The County lacks the authority to do more than voice these recommendations,” the release reads in part. “No authority is granted to the County by the Code of Virginia to order a private entity such as a poultry plant to cease operations due to a public health issue. That authority only rests with the State and Federal Government and is reinforced by the President’s executive order.”
The county is also monitoring demand on its “prehospital services such as EMS transports.” According to the release, call volumes have been well below normal, and there is a focus on “ensuring County first responders and other essential personnel have appropriate PPE to keep them protected now and in the coming weeks.”
