NEWSLETTER

APRIL 29, 2020

Neighbors,

I am continuing to stay in close contact with Governor Northam’s administration to lift up the concerns I have been hearing from constituents regarding our state’s response to the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

*Upcoming Tele-Town Hall on April 30*

I will be providing legislative updates and answering questions about the state’s guidance to address COVID-19 on Thursday, April 30 with Senators George Barker and Dave Marsden. 

You can participate in the conversation with the following information: Dial-in (605) 472-5239 | Access Code 811044 | Submit questions here. 

Below are updates from Governor Northam, state agencies, and community partners. 

Best, Kathy

https://www.kathyfordelegate.com/coronavirus-resources

Updates from Governor Northam and State Agencies

Healthcare Updates

Resumption of Elective Surgeries and Dental Procedures

  • The Governor’s Order of Public Health Emergency Two, which prohibits non-emergency surgeries and dental procedures, is set to expire at midnight tomorrow, April 30. Governor Northam announced he will not extend this order, which means that, starting May 1, hospitals and dental offices may resume elective/non-emergency procedures under interim safety guidelines. This decision was based on the preparation of hospitals and dental facilities to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and patients as well as current hospital capacity, testing abilities, and availability of personal protective equipment to address COVID-19.

Data Reporting

  • In addition to sharing the number of cases, hospitalizations, and fatalities by locality, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) will now start reporting data regarding COVID-19 at the zip code level. Virginia Health Commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver shared that the Virginia Department of Health is working on making the data available to the public over the next few days. VDH updates COVID-19 data daily by 10am and that data is available here. 

Liability of Healthcare Workers

  • Yesterday, April 28, Governor Northam signed Executive Order 60, which clarifies that liability protections available under Virginia law covers healthcare workers and first responders in cases of emergency, including the current public health pandemic. You can read the full text here.

Meat Processing Plants

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has responded to the letter from Governors Northam, Hogan (MD), and Carney (DE) requesting federal guidance and assistance in meat processing plants in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, which I mentioned earlier. 

  • The CDC met with local health and worker safety teams in affected communities in Virginia this morning. Virginia’s processing plants will be working with the CDC, US Department of Agriculture, US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Virginia Department of Health, and Virginia Department of Labor and Industry to ensure the health and safety of workers and surrounding communities by following appropriate federal and state guidance.

Tax Policy

  • I have heard from many constituents about the upcoming May 1 filing deadline for Virginia state taxes for Tax Year 2019. Last week, the Virginia General Assembly passed an amendment to waive interest on taxes through June 1 if certain conditions are met. The Virginia Department of Taxation has issued Tax Bulletin 20-5 with information regarding having interest waived, which you can find here. (Please note, this communication does not constitute legal advice.)

  • I share concerns about needing to increase Virginia’s flexibility for the Tax Year 2019 deadlines, including abating interest, penalties, and extending the tax deadlines. I have been and will continue to be in touch with Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne about this issue. However, at this time, Secretary Layne has indicated Virginia’s tax deadlines will not change to match the federal government timelines. 

Student Loan Support

  • Governor Northam announced that more than 200,00 Virginians impacted by COVID-19 with commercial Federal Family Education Loans (also known as Stafford Loans), Perkins loans, or privately held student loans are eligible for assistance through their borrowers. Relief options include:

  • A minimum of 90 days of forbearance

  • Waving late payment fees

  • Not being subject to negative credit reporting

  • Not being subject to debt collection lawsuits for 90 days

  • Enrolling in borrower assistance programs like income-based repayment options. 

  • Please contact your student loan provider to learn more about the relief options available. 

  • If you are having issues with your student loan provider or want to better understand the implications of these relief options, please contact the Virginia Student Loan Advocate Scott Kemp by emailing studentloan@schev.edu or calling (804) 786-2832.

Elections

  • Attorney General Mark Herring announced Virginia reached an agreement to help ensure safe absentee voting for the upcoming June 23 primaries. Under the terms of a proposed consent decree, Virginia will accept absentee ballots without the signature of a witness “for voters who believe they may not safely have a witness present while completing their ballot.” The order is proposed to the court and will not be final and effective until entered by the court. A copy of the brief in support of the agreement is here. 

Updates from Community Partners 

Verizon

  • Verizon is extending it’s relief for customers and small businesses who are unable to pay their bills as a result of COVID-19 until June 30th. This relief includes having late fees waived and not having service terminated. Customers need to notify Verizon in order to be enrolled into this program. More information is here.  

Comcast

  • Comcast is extending its relief for customers until June 30th. This includes waiving late fees and not having services disconnected for customers who are unable to pay their bills, making Xfinity WiFi hotspots in businesses and outdoor locations free for everyone to use, giving customers unlimited data a month, and continuing to offer complimentary 60 day Internet Essentials program for new customers. The announcement is here.

For my previous updates about how Virginia is addressing COVID-19 and related resources, see https://www.kathyfordelegate.com/coronavirus-resources.