VDH funds $5 million for new COVID-19 testing centers
As COVID infection rates reach record numbers from the omicron variant, the Virginia Department of Health will open nine new COVID-19 community testing centers across the state to increase testing availability, Gov. Ralph Northam’s office announced Thursday. The centers will offer polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, considered the most reliable type of COVID-19 test. The […]
Va. new unemployment claims up 51%
Virginia’s new unemployment claims increased by almost 51% last week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. For the filing week ending Jan. 1, Virginians filed 1,813 new claims, an increase of 609 from the previous week. Continued claims totaled 11,262, an increase of 6,358 claims from the week before. Compared to last year, initial claims […]
Looking back
In November 2021, Gov. Ralph Northam sat down for an interview with Virginia Business, looking back at his eventful four-year term. This is a transcript of the full interview, part of which was used in the January 2022 cover story, “A dramatic shift.” The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Virginia Business: What […]
A dramatic shift
Four years ago, no one would have guessed Gov. Ralph Northam would lead the most progressive Virginia administration in modern memory. A native of Onancock on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, as well as a pediatric neurologist and Army veteran, Virginia’s 73rd governor was eyed by some Democrats with suspicion after acknowledging he’d voted twice for President […]
Consumer Technology Association: “CES will and must go on”
The Arlington-based Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is moving forward with its CES consumer technology trade show in Las Vegas in January, despite cancelations from big exhibitors and the surge of COVID-19 cases fueled by the omicron variant. Formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, CES typically draws thousands of exhibitors and more than 150,000 attendees. […]
New Va. unemployment claims fall by 50%
The state’s new unemployment claims for the filing week ending Nov. 27 fell by about 50% from the previous week, while continued claims rose by more than 7,000 filings. The Virginia Employment Commission installed a new unemployment insurance system in November, and it missed two weeks of reports during that period. According to the VEC’s […]
Va. new employment claims rise slightly
Virginia’s new unemployment claims rose by about 19% last week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Friday. For the filing week ending Nov. 6, Virginians filed 1,290 new claims, an increase of 202 from the week before. Continued claims totaled 24,922, a decrease of 6,642 from the previous week. Compared to the same week last year, […]
Seeking a cure
Ashley Apple has advice for those hoping to understand the burden nurses face as COVID-19 surges once again while hospitals suffer staff shortages. “Think of the worst day you’ve ever had at work. Then add in poor staffing and multiple human deaths. Then repeat it every day for 18 months,” she says. “That’s sort of […]
Moderna, J&J booster shots now available in Va.
Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 booster shots are now available in Virginia, the Virginia Department of Health announced Friday. Dr. Danny Avula, the state’s vaccination liaison, said in a statement that pharmacies, doctors’ offices, hospitals and other providers are prepared for the rollout of the booster shots, which has been in the works for […]
Va. new jobless claims settle down after last week’s surge
After a 300% surge in new unemployment claims the previous week, the state saw numbers return to relatively normal levels in the filing week ending Sept. 25, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. Last week, 8,717 people filed initial claims, a decrease of 7,245 from the week before. Continued claims, however, rose by 9,672 last […]
Governor: Staff shortages becoming dire in Va. hospitals
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said that hospital workers in the state are “losing their patience” and that medical facilities will not be able to handle all patients with COVID-19 or other ailments if hospitals are understaffed beyond where they are now. “They need our help,” he said Monday at a news conference. “It’s getting to […]
New jobless claims in Va. surge by 300%
After three weeks of declining unemployment claims statewide, the number of new claims shot up more than 300% last week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. At the same time, continued claims dropped by more than 3,000 for the filing week ending Sept. 18. The VEC said in Thursday’s report that the end of federal […]