Statement of Governor Kaine on President Obama's Emergency Declaration for H1N1 Flu
RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine issued the following statement today on the declaration by President Obama of a national emergency to deal with the "rapid increase in illness" from the H1N1 influenza virus. President Obama's declaration allows Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius "to temporarily waive or modify certain requirements" should health care entities find the need to operationalize emergency plans to deal with the current pandemic:
"I support the President's move today to ease the nationwide response to the novel H1N1 influenza virus. The President's declaration will allow Virginia's hospitals to rapidly augment patient care services should we experience a significant surge of illness from H1N1 influenza.
"Although emergency departments and outpatient care centers in Virginia remain very busy with patients with influenza, the Commonwealth has a robust system of emergency coordination between the Virginia Department of Health and the state's hospitals that has been years in the making. As we move into the fall and winter flu seasons, we are focused on providing H1N1 vaccinations to our most vulnerable citizens--including children and expectant mothers--until the vaccine becomes more widely available this November. We are working daily to monitor the situation and ensure quality patient care and adequate resources whatever level of disease may be present in the Commonwealth.
"While Virginia is fortunately not yet in need of implementing the changes that the national emergency declaration is intended to facilitate, the President's action ensures we have the flexibility needed should the current pandemic situation worsen. We appreciate the administration's continued vigilance in regard to this important health concern as we move forward with our own vaccination, treatment, and public education efforts. In the meantime I encourage Virginians to keep up preventive measures like hand washing, covering one's cough or sneeze and other similar steps."
For additional information, visit the websites of the Virginia Department of Health or the Centers for Disease Control .
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