NEWSLETTER

JUNE 9, 2020

Neighbors,

This Thursday, June 11 at 6:30pm I will be hosting my sixth tele-town hall! Join Delegates Mark Sickles, Paul Krizek, and me for legislative updates and information regarding our state’s response to COVID-19. 

Our special guest will be Cassidy Rasnick, Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade - The Deputy Secretary will be talking about Phase II of the re-opening of our economy, which is starting on Friday, June 12 in Northern Virginia. Submit your questions now!

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

Updates

Below are COVID-19 and other updates from Governor Northam, state agencies, and Fairfax County. 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

Updates from Governor Northam and state agencies

Status of Re-Opening Northern Virginia 

  • Governor Northam has determined that Northern Virginia and the City of Richmond will enter Phase II of re-opening our regional economies this Friday, June 12th. 

  • As I previously shared, you can find detailed information about Phase II requirements in Executive Order 65/Order of Public Health Emergency 6, available here, as well as a list of requirements and recommended best practices for all business sectors here. Below is a summary of Phase II for your information:

  • Continues the recommendations of physical distancing and requirement of wearing face coverings in certain public settings. 

  • Bans public and private gatherings of more than 50 people. 

  • Requirements and recommended best practices for all business sectors that may continue or begin easing restrictions under Phase II include: 

  • Establish policies and practices to maintain physical distancing between coworkers and customers

  • Provide clear signage for physical distancing in areas where individuals may congregate 

  • Frequently disinfect high contact areas

  • Encourage telework

  • Limit in-person gatherings such as conferences

  • Incorporate enhanced workplace safety best practices, to the extent possible. 

  • Individualized requirements and suggested best practices for the following sectors: 

  • Restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, cideries, mobile units (food trucks), distilleries, wineries, and tasting rooms.

  • Farmers markets.

  • Non-essential brick and mortar retail establishments. 

  • Fitness and Exercise Facilities.

  • Indoor and outdoor swimming pools. 

  • Indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities. 

  • Personal care and personal grooming services.

  • Private campgrounds and overnight summer camps. 

  • Entertainment and public amusement. 

  • Religious services. 

  • I strongly advise that you review EO 65/OPHE 6 and the Business Guidelines if you are returning to work so that you know about the safety precautions that employers should have in place. Similarly, please review these requirements if you patron these businesses so you are aware of what is expected to protect yours and workers’ health and safety. 

Frequently Asked Questions for Phase II and Face Covering Requirements

  • The Virginia Department of Health has published Frequently Asked Questions about the statewide face covering requirement and the guidelines for Phase I and Phase II. Please see the following Frequently Asked Questions page.

Plan for Re-Opening of Schools

  • The Governor announced a phased plan to re-open PreK-12 schools for in-person instruction. The detailed guidance can be found here; below is a summary for your information. 

  • The phases for re-opening PreK-12 schools align with the phases for re-opening Virginia’s economy. 

  • Phase I allows for schools and daycares to hold small, physically-distanced groups for in-person instruction for special education programs and young children of essential workers. 

  • Phase II allows students in pre-K through 3rd grade, ESL students, and students with disabilities to participate in in-person learning. Summer camps may be held in school buildings that follow physical distancing and disinfecting measures. Extracurricular activities may be offered if social distancing can be maintained. 

  • Phase III allows in-person instruction for all PreK-12 students. Physical distancing measures will still be in place. Students may experience different schedules and new uses or closures of communal spaces. Students will also be seated six feet apart in school buses. Staff and students who are at a higher-risk of complications from COVID-19 will have remote options available to them. 

  • All PreK-12 schools must provide new instruction to students for the 2020-2021 academic year, regardless of the operational status of the school buildings.

  • Local school districts have discretion on how to operationalize each phase. For example, they may decide to offer more limited in-person options, as required by local public health conditions or other reasons.

  • Local school districts and private schools must submit plans to the Virginia Department of Education, beginning with Phase II, to address how they will limit the spread of COVID-19. See the accompanying Order of Public Health Emergency here.

  • Plans must include policies regarding: use of face coverings, health screenings, physical distancing measures, enhanced hygiene practices, isolation of symptomatic cases, and sanitization practices. 

  • Also, in every phase, PreK-12 schools must follow CDC Guidance for Schools, which include social and physical distancing and enhanced health, hygiene, and sanitization procedures. The CDC Guidance is available here.

Temporary Moratorium on Evictions 

  • At the request of Governor Northam, Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald Lemons approved a temporary statewide moratorium on all eviction proceedings until June 28. For more information and resources on tenant rights in Virginia, please visit stayhomevirginia.com.

Re-opening of Youth Sports Under Phase II

  • As noted in the Re-Opening of Schools Guidance, in Phase II, athletics should be limited to individual or team-based practices, skill-building drills, or similar activities that allow for maintenance of physical distancing. 

  • The Virginia Department of Health recommends that no youth recreational/ school sports competition take place unless physical distancing of 10 feet can be maintained by all participants and spectators. If able to maintain physical distancing, then:

  • Outdoor recreational sports are allowable if the total number of attendees is 50% of the venue capacity or 50 people, whichever is less. 

  • Indoor recreational sports are allowable if the total number of attendees is 30% of the venue capacity or 50 persons, whichever is less. 

Resources for the November 2020 Elections

  • The Virginia Department of Election announced the state has received $9 million from the federal CARESS Act to disperse to localities to cover COVID-19 related expenses for the November 2020 federal elections. This includes costs associated with protecting the health of poll workers, staff, and voters on election day. You can find the announcement here. 

Updates from Fairfax County

Fairfax RISE Grants

  • Fairfax County’s RISE grants for eligible small businesses and nonprofits are now accepting applications until June 15 at 11:59pm. You can learn more about the program’s eligibility requirements and submit an application 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.