NEWSLETTER

JUNE 25, 2020

Neighbors,

Today is the last day Governor Northam will be providing regularly scheduled briefings regarding COVID-19. Moving forward, the Governor will hold briefings as needed. 

I will continue to keep our community in the 42nd District informed of legislative updates and Virginia’s response to COVID-19 through my electronic newsletters.

Updates

Below are COVID-19 and other updates from Governor Northam, state agencies, and Metro. As always, please let me know if I can be of assistance by calling my office 804-698-1042 or emailing me at DelKTran@house.virginia.gov.

Best, Kathy

Delegate, 42nd District 

Updates from Governor Northam and state agencies

Phase III of Re-Opening Our Economy

  • Governor Northam announced all of Virginia will enter Phase III of re-opening the economy on July 1. 

  • As a reminder, below is a summary of the guidelines for Phase III; the complete guidelines are available here.

  • Teleworking and physical distancing will continue to be encouraged. 

  • Face coverings will continue to be required in indoor public spaces. For more information, see EO 63.

  • Social gatherings will be able to include up to 250 people or up to 50% of the capacity of the event space, whichever is less.

  • All businesses will need to follow physical distancing guidelines, frequently clean and sanitize high contact surfaces, and keep enhanced workplace safety measures in place.

  • Non-essential retail stores will not have a capacity restriction, and they must assist customers in maintaining 6 feet of distance while shopping and waiting in lines. 

  • Restaurants and beverage services will not have a capacity restriction, and they must provide 6 feet of distancing between parties.

  • Farmers markets will be able to re-open, and they must provide 6 feet distancing between tables.

  • Gyms will be able to open at 75% capacity, and they must maintain 10 feet of distancing between patrons.

  • Indoor and outdoor swimming pools will be able to open at 75% capacity. Pools must maintain 10 feet of distancing between swimmers not in the same household. Free swim is allowed. Parents or guardians may support a participant during class, and instructors may have contact with swimmers when necessary. Hot tubs, spas, saunas, splash pads, spray pools, and interactive play features will be closed.

  • Indoor and outdoor recreational sports should maintain 10 feet of physical distance between all instructors, participants, and spectators, where practicable. The total number of attendees (including both participants and spectators) of recreational sports cannot exceed 50% of the capacity of the venue or 250 persons, whichever is less. For sports played on a field, attendees are limited to 250 persons per field.

  • Personal grooming businesses must stagger appointments. Work stations must have at least six feet of distancing, and patrons must maintain at least 6 feet of physical distancing in the waiting area.

  • Campgrounds cannot have gatherings of more than 250 people.

  • Overnight summer camps will remain closed. 

  • Entertainment venues will be able to open at 50% capacity but no more than 1,000 people. Venues must maintain 10 feet of distancing between performers, participants, and patrons who are not members of the same household. There should be 6 feet of distancing in outdoor lines between people who are not members of the same household.

  • Places of worship must seat individuals attending religious services at least six feet apart at all times and must practice physical distancing at all times. Family members may be seated together. 

COVID-19 Testing

  • As Virginia moves into Phase III of re-opening our economy, the following are the state’s COVID-19 testing goals: 

  • Testing all symptomatic individuals and people who have had close contact with people who have been referred by public health officials. 

  • Increasing our testing capacity to 6,000-13,000 statewide tests per day. 

  • Having a 10 percent positivity rate for each region.

  • Over test high risk populations, such as socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, individuals with chronic illnesses, and the elderly.

  • Continue conducting point prevalence testing at long-term care facilities and prisons.

  • Testing and containment at outbreak sites.  

  • Overall containment through contact tracing.

Department of Motor Vehicles

  • Previously, the Department of Motor Vehicles gave a 90-day extension for DMV-issued credentials, including licenses and vehicle registrations, that expire before July 31. Today, the DMV announced an additional 90-day extension for these credentials 

  • This means:

  • If your credential expired between March 15 and April 30, you effectively have 180 days beyond the expiration date to renew. 

  • If your credential expires between May 1 and July 31, you will also 180 days beyond the expiration date to renew your credential, but this extension is not to exceed October 31, 2020.

  • If your credential expires after July 31, you must renew the credential before its expiration date.

  • For the full announcement, please see here. To schedule an in person appointment with the DMV, please visit their website here. If you are experiencing any issues with scheduling an appointment, please contact me via email or phone. 

Housing Stability

  • The Virginia Supreme Court’s order halting evictions will expire on June 28. At that time, thousands of Virginians are at risk of evictions. As such, Governor Northam has called upon Chief Circuit Court judges to temporarily extend Virginia’s moratorium on evictions, as appropriate, within their localities.

  • The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development is establishing a Rent and Mortgage Relief Program using $50 million from the federal CARES Act program. This program will provide rent and mortgage assistance to those who have experienced financial hardships as a result of the pandemic. The program will target outreach to communities of color that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. More information, including how to apply, will be available once the program launches on June 29. 

  • As a reminder, you can find information and resources on tenant rights in Virginia at stayhomevirginia.com.

  • Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS)

  • The VDSS has created the following resources to assist to assist you during the pandemic:

  • The VDSS COVID-19 response page provides information on programs for assisted living facility guidance, child care, lost wages, meal sites, or healthcare. See this site. 

  • The COVID-19 Virginia Resources app can be downloaded here. 

  • Virginians can apply for help with food, childcare, heating and cooling bills, health care and cash assistance through the web portal, CommonHelp. For information on eligibility as well as application process and deadline, see CommonHelp.

  • VDSS will offer several programs to assist Virginians pay for pay energy debt accumulated during the pandemic. More information on these programs will be available in July.  

Updates from Metro

Silver Line and Metro Stations Update

Yesterday, Metro announced that it will re-open six stations on the Silver and Orange Lines and restore Silver Line service on August 16. Metro expects that additional stations are expected to re-open around Labor Day. You can see the full announcement here. 

 

View my summary of the 2020 legislative session here.

View my previous e-newsletters here.

View my new COVID-19 resource page to see a summary of state actions, guidance, and resources here.