NEWSLETTER
MAY 22, 2020
Neighbors,
Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating tomorrow - Whether you are celebrating in person or virtually with family and friends, I hope you have a wonderful and safe Eid-al-Fitr.
Upcoming Tele-Town Hall
Next week, I am hosting a Tele-Town Hall with Senator Scott Surovell on Thursday, May 28 at 6:30pm. We will provide an update from the 2020 legislative session and our state’s response to the pandemic.
You can participate in the conversation with the following information: Dial-in (605) 472-5239 | Access Code 811044 | Submit questions ahead of time here.
Updates
Below are COVID-19 and other updates from Governor Northam, state agencies, Fairfax County, and Fairfax County Public Schools. As always, please let me know if you have any questions by calling (804) 698-1042 or emailing DelKTran@house.virginia.gov.
Best, Kathy
Updates from Governor Northam and State Agencies
Governor Northman’s Press Conference Updates
Starting Tuesday, May 26, Governor Northman’s press conferences to provide updates on the state’s response to COVID-19 is moving to Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2pm. You can view these updates at his Facebook page.
Also, as I shared this week, you can view a livestream Spanish translation of the Governor’s press conference on the Virginia Department of Emergency Management Facebook page.
Re-Opening Northern Virginia’s Economy
Governor Northam will make an announcement next week regarding the timeline for Northern Virginia to begin Phase I of re-opening our region’s economy. The current Executive Order 62 and Order of Public Health Emergency Four, which delays Northern Virginia, City of Richmond, and Accomack County entering Phase I, is set to expire at 11:59pm on Thursday, May 28.
Healthcare Updates
New Telehealth Tool
The Virginia Department of Health has launched COVIDCheck, a new telehealth tool designed to help Virginians check for symptoms, identify testing sites, and answer questions regarding COVID-19. You can view the online tool here.
Food Security
Starting May 29, Virginians receiving benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be able to order groceries online through Amazon and Walmart. This is through a pilot program managed by the Virginia Department of Social Services that has been approved by the US Department of Agriculture. You can view the announcement here.
Employment Data
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Virginia had a 2.8 percent unemployment rate. The most recent data for April shows that our unemployment rate is at 10.8 percent. Since the pandemic started, 720,000 Virginians have applied for unemployment benefits. To help process the historic volume of applications, the Virginia Employment Commission is opening a new call center that will have 315 additional workers. Please know that my team and I are available to help if you are experiencing any challenges in accessing unemployment benefits.
Graduation for Virginia Seniors
Virginia Public Media is airing “Virginia Graduates Together” to commemorate students graduating this year. Students can send VPM photos, messages, videos, and more to vpm.org/grad by Sunday, May 24.
Updates from Fairfax County
Bike Trails
We are beginning to see warmer weather. If you are interested in taking a bike ride, Fairfax County’s Interactive Bike Map has information about accessible bike trails near you. You can find the map here.
Updates from Fairfax County Public Schools
Meal Distribution
Fairfax County Public Schools will continue its meal distributions on Memorial Day, May 25. You can view the announcement, as well as updated sites, here.
As a reminder, below are the distribution sites within the 42nd District:
Fort Belvoir Upper ES, 5980 Meeres Rd., Fort Belvoir
Irving MS, 8100 Old Keene Mill Rd., Springfield
South County HS, 8700 Laurel Crest Drive, Lorton
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.