NEWSLETTER
APRIL 16, 2020
Neighbors in the 42nd District,
Today we mark the sixth week since Governor Northam declared a state of emergency in Virginia to address the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been a hard time for all of us - More than 6,000 Virginians have tested positive for COVID-19, and many of us, myself included, know someone who has fallen ill.
At the same time, many are wondering when our Commonwealth’s economy will open up and when our lives will return to “normal.” I have heard from many constituents who have lost their jobs or are facing other economic hardships as a result of the pandemic. Balancing our public health and well-being with our economic recovery is going to be complex. The Governor made some announcements regarding his plans, which I share below.
On Thursday, April 23, I will be hosting a Tele-Town Hall with Senators George Barker and Dave Marsden to provide legislative updates and answer questions on our state’s response to COVID-19. You can join the conversation with the following information: Dial-in (605) 472-5239 | Access Code 811044 | Submit questions here.
Below are updates from Governor Northam and state agencies. As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Best, Kathy
https://www.kathyfordelegate.com/coronavirus-resources
Updates from Governor Northam
Healthcare Access and Personal Protective Equipment
As I previously shared, Virginia initiated a $27 million contract to procure personal protective equipment (PPE). The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has received the first shipment from that purchase and will be distributing the PPE throughout the state, with a focus on areas in need.
I’ve heard from constituents concerned about the rate at which Virginia is testing for COVID-19 compared to other states, and I share the same concerns about the need to urgently ramp up capacity. Governor Northam and his team are creating a task force to address this.
Virginia’s Economy
Reopening Businesses and Restarting Our Economy
The Governor has formed an Economic Strikeforce to assess how best to reopen businesses and restart our economy. This team includes private sector representatives and it will take into account economic, COVID-19 and other related data to determine its recommendations. The Governor will also be coordinating with the governors of our neighboring states and Mayor Bowser of Washington, DC on the region’s plans.
The Governor’s goal is to ensure Virginians feel safe and comfortable returning to businesses when restrictions are eased.
Relief for Businesses
Virginia small businesses with 500 employees or less have received 2,700 loans totaling about $6.5 billion from the Paycheck Protection Program, available through the US Small Business Administration. PPP is a new program to aid small businesses and nonprofit organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic created by the federal CARES Act; to learn more, see this site.
Extension of Closures of Certain Businesses and Other Requirements
Based on available data regarding the spread of COVID-19, Governor Northam is extending Executive Order (EO) 53 until May 8. Among the requirements of EO 53 are: mandated closure of certain businesses, identification of essential retail businesses, and requirements for businesses to adhere to social distancing and enhanced sanitization practices. It also bans gatherings of more than 10 people.
The Governor will continue to monitor data to determine how the state will proceed after May 8. Below is a summary of EO 53’s business mandates and the full text is here:
The following recreational and entertainment businesses must close to the public:
Theaters, performing arts centers, concert venues, museums, and other indoor entertainment centers.
Fitness centers, gymnasiums, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities.
Beauty salons, barber shops, spas, massage parlors, tanning salons, tattoo shops, and any other location where personal care or personal grooming services are performed that would not allow compliance with social distancing guidelines to remain six feet apart.
Racetracks and historic horse racing facilities.
Bowling alleys, skating rinks, arcades, amusement parks, trampoline parks, fairs, arts and craft facilities, aquariums, zoos, escape rooms, indoor shooting ranges, public and private social clubs, and all other places of indoor public amusement.
The following food service and alcohol businesses are now required to close in-person dining and congregation areas, but may continue to offer delivery and take-out services:
Restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, tasting rooms, and farmers markets.
The following essential retail businesses may remain open during their normal business hours:
Grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retailers that sell food and beverage products or pharmacy products, including dollar stores, and department stores with grocery or pharmacy operations.
Medical, laboratory, and vision supply retailers.
Electronic retailers that sell or service cell phones, computers, tablets, and other communications technology.
Automotive parts, accessories, and tire retailers as well as automotive repair facilities.
Home improvement, hardware, building material, and building supply retailers.
Lawn and garden equipment retailers.
Beer, wine, and liquor stores.
Retail functions of gas stations and convenience stores.
Retail located within healthcare facilities.
Banks and other financial institutions with retail functions.
Pet stores and feed stores.
Printing and office supply stores.
Laundromats and dry cleaners.
All other brick and mortar retail businesses not listed as an “essential business” above may continue to operate but must limit all in-person shopping to no more than 10 patrons per establishment. Businesses that cannot adhere to this limit with proper social distancing requirements must close.
Businesses offering professional services are encouraged to provide as much telework as possible. If telework is not available, then all businesses must adhere to CDC social distancing and sanitation guidelines.
All businesses that are operating must adhere to social distancing and enhanced sanitization procedures.
Violation of EO 53 is a class 1 misdemeanor and enforceable by local governments and law enforcement.
Childcare Resources
Governor Northam is dedicating $70 million from Virginia’s funding from the federal CARES Act to support essential workers with children under the age of 12 and early childhood educators. The resources will be directed to: assist child care providers that are open and serving essential personnel; eliminate copayments until June for families receiving federal childcare subsidies; assist centers with federal subsidies that had to close; and cover certain costs of emergency back-up care for public schools. To apply for funding see www.childcareva.com.
If you are an essential worker who is in need of childcare, please visit www.vachildcare.org or call 1-866-543-7852 for an updated list of childcare options in your area.
For my previous updates about how Virginia is addressing COVID-19 and related resources, see https://www.kathyfordelegate.com/coronavirus-resources.