NEWSLETTER
March 21, 2020
Neighbors in the 42nd District,
I am looking forward to hosting my Tele-Town Hall this upcoming Tuesday, March 24 from 7pm-7:45pm. You can join the conversation using the following information: Dial-in: (605) 472-5239 | Access Code: 811044 | Submit your questions here.
Below you can find updates on our state government and Metro regarding the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19).
Best, Kathy
For previous updates and resources, see https://www.kathyfordelegate.com/coronavirus-resources.
State Agency Updates
Expanded Testing Criteria
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has released expanded COVID-19 testing guidelines. VDH’s public lab will conduct tests for those individuals who meet the following criteria. The full announcement is available here. (Note: VDH approval is not needed for testing conducted through private labs:
Healthcare workers and first line responders who had contact or cared for a patient with COVID- 19 within 14 days of last exposure AND fever or signs/symptoms of a lower respiratory illness.
Potential clusters of unknown respiratory illness where influenza has been ruled out, with priority for healthcare facility outbreaks. All suspected clusters or outbreaks should be reported to the local health department.
Persons hospitalized AND who tested negative for influenza and other respiratory pathogens on a respiratory virus panel on initial work-up** AND no alternative diagnosis. Priority will be given to ICU admissions or people on ventilators, where circumstances require a confirmed COVID-19 for compassionate use treatment with antivirals.
Person who resides in a nursing home or long-term care facility AND who has fever or signs/symptoms of a lower respiratory illness AND who tested negative for influenza on initial work-up** AND no alternative diagnosis.
Increase in Licensed Beds at Hospitals and Nursing Homes
Governor Northam issued Executive Order 52 to increase the availability of licensed beds in Virginia’s hospitals and nursing homes in response to COVID-19. You can view the Executive Order here.
How Local Governments and Public Bodies Can Meet to Conduct Business
The specific issues of this pandemic, including the need for social distancing, provides unique challenges for public bodies, including local governments, to conduct business while meeting Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA). Attorney General Mark Herring issued an opinion that enables public bodies to meet electronically to address COVID-19 or ensure continuity of business at this time, while still allowing public access to fulfill certain requirements of VFOIA. emergencies. You can view the opinion here.
Department of Corrections
The Virginia Department of Corrections will be providing inmates held in Virginia state correctional facilities to have two free phone calls a week from March 19 to April 15.
Transportation
WMATA
Starting at 5pm on March 21, Metro will be reducing the number of bus lines to their 20 most used routes through March 22. You can see their announcement and the list of lines that will remain in service here.