NORFOLK, Va. - The number of people spread out on the beach and boardwalk over the holiday weekend is alarming for doctors.
"When it's a holiday weekend, Virginia Beach is a hotspot. So, of course you're going to have a lot of cases,” said Dr. Nicole Donaldson.
According to the Department of Health, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Norfolk are seeing a spike in daily coronavirus cases. Dr. Donaldson with Fort Norfolk Plaza Medical Associates believes they will continue to climb.
She says, "I’m looking forward to seeing a spike at least in the next week or so in cases.”
Her biggest worry is people not wearing masks and social distancing.
"This is something that is not political. It's not meant to attack your rights; this is about keeping you safe from getting you sick,” adds Dr. Donaldson.
The sign outside Dirty Buffalo now reads, “No Mask, No Service.” Restaurant leaders say they hope other restaurants do the same to protect the community.
We believe that the sign speaks for itself. We are strongly committed to the health and safety of our team members and the members of the community in which we serve. We want everyone to know that when people come to any of our restaurants that they can be assured that we have taken measures above and beyond what is required by the state to ensure that our guests can enjoy their meals in a safe and clean environment. We would love to see other restaurants in our community operate in an equally responsible manner that doesn’t put sales above safety.
Down the street on Colley Avenue at Hank’s Filling Station, they also have signs up requiring face coverings before you enter.
“I think it’s important that we follow the governors mandate so that we can continue going forward in phases and not going backwards,” said Holly Pim, operator for Ghent Eats.
Dr. Donaldson says going backwards could be the best option.
“At this particular point, it's probably best to go back to the curbside and the takeout,” she adds.
