How long that phase will last is unclear, but State Health Commissioner Norman Oliver said he expects it to be in effect until “medical countermeasures” like a treatment or vaccine are rolled out broadly.

“I, personally, think Phase One will be a two-year affair,” Oliver said. “There are a lot of people working on this, and I hope they prove me wrong, but I don’t see it happening in less than two years.”

Northam said on Friday that building out the details of Phase One will involve state health officials, local government officials, representatives of the business community and faith leaders. On Friday, Northam announced a task force made up of business owners and leaders who will help guide plans for reopening businesses under the pandemic.

Northam said the plans will include overarching rules for all businesses, and specific guidance for different industries, such as restaurants and barbershops.

This week, several states — including Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska — have announced plans to start reopening businesses in the coming days despite warnings from experts that this could lead to a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Boosting testing