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Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is urging business leaders to follow the lead of the state and federal governments and require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in a better place than we were back in March of 2020, but we still have a lot of work to do鈥� to end the pandemic, Northam told about 200 business leaders at the Capital Region Business Forum on Thursday morning in downtown Washington. The forum was presented by three regional business organizations, including the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
Northam noted that he has required all state employees to be vaccinated or submit to regular COVID-19 testing. President Joe Biden was expected later Thursday to strengthen the requirement for federal employees to be vaccinated by eliminating their option to undergo regular testing instead.
鈥淭he only way we鈥檙e going to get through this pandemic is to get people vaccinated,鈥� Northam said. 鈥淚 would hope that you would step up as well and say the only way we鈥檙e going to move forward, the only way we鈥檙e going to keep our businesses alive and well, the only way we鈥檙e going to get our children back to school safely is to get people vaccinated.鈥�
A physician, Northam noted that the virus is mutating in order to survive and that the more people are vaccinated, the fewer chances the virus has to mutate.
Northam, a Democrat, was joined at the event by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, and District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat. The three leaders highlighted their collaboration during the pandemic and noted that the region generally has fared better than many other areas of the country.
鈥淲e鈥檝e stuck together. People have done exactly what we asked them to do,鈥� Bowser said. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e very well positioned for the comeback.鈥�
Hogan noted that over 80% of Maryland residents over age 12 have been vaccinated, one of the highest rates in the country, and the state currently has the second-lowest rate of new COVID cases in the country.
鈥淚t鈥檚 still very scary with this Delta variant,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all doing better than most of the other places.鈥�
Hogan and Northam both noted that a major problem facing the region now is the labor shortage, and Northam highlighted Virginia鈥檚 efforts to train new workers for 21st century jobs.
Bowser noted, however, that the pandemic may have resulted in some long-term changes to the workforce.
鈥淧eople have had a year and a half to think about their life and what they鈥檙e doing and if they should be doing something else,鈥� she said. 鈥淨uite frankly, as an employer, I鈥檓 glad people have had that opportunity because I want them to be focused on the things that are going to make themselves happy.鈥�
The leaders also talked about the region鈥檚 transportation challenges, including expanding the American Legion Bridge, adding toll lanes to Interstate 495 in Maryland, and funding Metro.
While road investments are necessary, Northam said, 鈥渨e can鈥檛 pave our way out of congestion鈥� and must also focus on rail and transit projects, such as the Long Bridge expansion. That project will ease train congestion over the Potomac River between Virginia and the District.
Hogan cited the regional leaders鈥� efforts to persuade the federal government to continue supporting Metro but said its systemic problems and maintenance issues also need to be addressed.
鈥淭he federal government needs to understand their role in how important Metro is,鈥� Hogan said.
In response to a question about business taxes, Hogan and Northam both cited their states鈥� budget surpluses. Hogan, who has been mentioned as a potential Republican presidential candidate, said Maryland has cut taxes for seven straight years and has experienced 鈥渢he biggest economic turnaround in the country.鈥�
Northam noted the diversification of businesses in Virginia away from a reliance on military and government contracting, as evidenced by Amazon鈥檚 decision to build its HQ2 in Northern Virginia.
鈥淰irginia economically is in a good position,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone needs to talk about raising taxes in Virginia.鈥�
