NEWSLETTER

MAY 8, 2020

Neighbors,

Yesterday marked two months since the first reported case of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) in Virginia, which happened in the 42nd District. All of our lives have been affected throughout this time, and I thank everyone for practicing social distance to help flatten the curve of this pandemic. As we move forward, it remains critical that we continue to be flexible, practice social distancing, and follow new guidelines to support our public health.

Many thanks to everyone who joined my Tele-Town Hall this week; we addressed a wide-range of questions about the state’s budget, response to the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), plans to re-open the economy, and absentee voting in upcoming elections. I am organizing additional Tele-Town Halls and will share details as they become available.

This is a long newsletter with COVID-19 and other updates from Governor Northam, state agencies, and community partners. As always, please let me know if you have any questions. 

Best, Kathy

Updates from Governor Northam and State Agencies

Re-Opening our Economy

  • Today, Governor Northam announced additional details for Phase I of re-opening our economy. As I previously shared, in making decisions about how and when to re-open the economy, the Governor has indicated he is looking for the following (You can see charts illustrating the state’s trends here):

    • Downward trend of positive tests over 14 days

    • Downward trend of hospitalizations over 14 days.

    • Increased capacity in testing and contact tracing. 

    • Sufficient hospital bed and intensive care capacity. 

    • Increased and sustainable supply of personal protective equipment. 

  • Based on the state’s trends, the Governor indicated today he is continuing to plan for Virginia to begin Phase I of re-opening the economy on Friday, May 15. The Governor expects we will remain in Phase I for a minimum of two weeks, depending on COVID-19 data. 

A summary of Phase I is below and more information is here:

  • Updating Executive Order 55 from a “Stay at home” order to a “Safer at home” order.

    • Continued:

      • Social distancing.

      • No social gatherings of more than 10 people

      • wear face coverings in public.

      • Recommendation to wear face coverings in public.

  • The following are changes for businesses:

    • Non-essential retail stores, which are currently limited to a 10 person capacity, will be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity. 

    • Restaurants and beverage services, which are currently limited to takeout and delivery, will be allowed to continue takeout and delivery services and to provide outdoor seating at 50 percent capacity.

    • Gyms and fitness centers, which are currently closed, will remain closed. Limited outdoor fitness will be allowed.

    • Beaches, currently open for exercise and fishing only, will remain open for exercise and fishing only. 

    • Places of worship, which are currently only allowed to operate for drive-in services or with a 10 person capacity, will be allowed to open at 50 percent indoor capacity.

    • Personal grooming businesses, which are currently closed, will be allowed to open for appointment only with strict social distancing and face masks requirements.

    • Private campgrounds, which are currently closed, will be allowed to open with strict restrictions on distance between campsites. 

    • State parks, which are currently open for day use only, will have a phased opening for overnight camping. 

    • Childcare will continue to be open with a prioritization of children with families who are currently working. 

    • Overnight summer camps will remain closed. 

  • A couple of important things to note:

    • If COVID-19 data changes, the Governor may revisit the timeline to begin Phase I.

    • These are the state guidelines and requirements for Phase I. Local governments have the authority to continue with some/all restrictions in place and move on a slower timeline to re-open their economies - this means we may see differences throughout Virginia in how local communities approach re-opening their economies.

    • Businesses are not required to open, but if they do, they must adhere to these requirements.

    • Requirements in Phase I are enforceable by local law enforcement. 

Support for Workers

Workplace Safety

  • As we re-open the economy, Governor Northam indicates his priority will be the health and safety of workers and consumers.

    • You can file a complaint with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry about workplace safety concerns here.

    • Everyone is strongly encouraged to follow the social distancing and face covering recommendations to help protect ourselves and workers. 

Unemployment Insurance Benefits

  • During my Tele-Town Hall this past Thursday, Dr. Megan Healy, the Governor’s Chief Workforce Advisor noted the federal government establishes the framework for state unemployment insurance programs. She confirmed the US Department of Labor’s guidelines indicate that if you are receiving unemployment insurance benefits, and you receive a “return to work” letter, then you must follow that order. If you chose not to return to work and are let go from your place of employment, then you will be considered a “voluntary separation” and no longer qualify for unemployment benefits.

  • Constituents have reached out to me concerned about their health and safety if they have to return to work - some individuals have underlying health conditions, others care for those with health vulnerabilities, and some worry about implementation of safety precautions in their specific workplace. I recognize these are incredibly hard and personal decisions that everyone will be making. If you are disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because you did not follow a “return to work” order, then you can appeal that decision with the Virginia Employment Commission.

  • I have asked Governor Northam and Dr. Healy to please implement maximum flexibility provided by the federal government in the unemployment insurance adjudication process so that Virginians who are in these or other situations can continue to safeguard their health.

  • The Virginia Employment Commission is developing its adjudication policies and will be hiring additional staff to handle appeals and adjudication claims to help as many Virginians receive benefits, as allowed under current law. 

  • The Governor raised this issue with Virginia’s Congressional delegation and asked for additional flexibility with unemployment benefits.

Healthcare Updates

Poultry Processing Plants

  • The Department of Health continues to work with the CDC, poultry plants, and community leaders to ensure the safety of workers at these plants. This weekend, there will be 1,500 tests conducted in the Eastern Shore in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 cases in the plants in that community.

Healthcare Providers

  • With the resumption of non-emergency surgeries and dental procedures, the Department of Health is working with the Medical Society of Virginia to assess the personal protection equipment (PPE), sanitation, and COVID-19 testing needs of physicians across the state. 

Contact Tracing

  • I had mentioned earlier the Department of Health is hiring 1,000 contact tracers, an essential workforce to help contain the spread of COVID-19. Currently, the state has onboarded 325 contact tracers. If you are interested in this job opportunity, let me know and we can connect you to VDH. 

Judicial System

  • The Supreme Court of Virginia announced it is extending its Judicial Emergency Order until June 7. In this updated order, courts will be allowed to begin non-emergency proceedings starting May 18 if measures are taken to limit the spread of COVID-19. The announcement is here. 

Community Partner Updates

Metro

  • Starting on May 25, Metro will be shutting down nine stations on the Orange and Silver metro lines for improvement projects. This work will go on through the fall. During this time, free express and shuttle services will be available for essential workers. To see what stations are impacted, click here.

Public comment Period for Northern Virginia Transportation Projects

  • The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority is currently accepting comments on 41 transportation projects across Northern Virginia. While comments can be made in person on May 14, residents are strongly encouraged to submit comments online, through the mail, or via telephone. The public comment period will close on May 24. You can learn more about the projects and how to submit a comment here. 

View my summary of the 2020 legislative session here.

View my e-newsletters here.

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