Virginia government disavows health chief's two-year timeline of coronavirus recovery

Gov. Ralph Northam on Friday outlined a lengthy "Phase One" process for reopening the state's economy.

On Saturday the Virginia governor's office, and its health department, sharply disputed the top health chief's claims made on Friday that strict "social distancing" guidelines and widespread business closures may persist in Virginia for up to two years.

Following that claim by State Health Commissioner Norman Oliver, the Virginia Department of Health rushed to walk it back on Saturday morning, claiming that the development of a vaccine might take up to two years, but that the state had "no expectations" that the initial phase of Gov. Ralph Northam's re-opening of the state would last for that long.

The rollout "will not last for two years," the governor's office said on Saturday. "We need to keep working together to beat this disease — not spread fear and misinformation."

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