Sen. Warner: COVID-19 testing and PPE shortages must be addressed before Virginia will reopen

A Virginia senator serving on the Opening Up America Again Congressional Group said the government will have to provide more coronavirus tests to the public and more personal protective equipment to front line workers before the commonwealth will be able to reopen.

Both areas of the COVID-19 response will have to improve for Virginia to reopen its local governments, schools, and businesses, said Sen. Mark Warner.

“We have to do a better job on our testing and PPE if we want to reopen,” Warner said. “I want the commonwealth to reopen, but it’s got to be done in a way that’s safe and secure.”

Warner added that communities, local governments, and Congress need more clarity — and volume — of COVID-19 tests, and said that Congress has been urging the federal government to create a national testing database to make the situation in the United States clearer.