NoVa and Richmond to enter Phase Two June 12
Northern Virginia and the city of Richmond will enter Phase Two of Gov. Ralph Northam’s “Forward Virginia” plan Friday, June 12, joining the rest of the state in loosened restrictions on dining areas, personal care and grooming services and other nonessential businesses, Northam announced Tuesday. The stateR[...]
Virginia places 20-day moratorium on evictions
With almost 400,000 Virginians still unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic fallout, Gov. Ralph Northam has announced a temporary statewide moratorium on eviction proceedings in the commonwealth, to remain in effect through June 28. Granted by an order from Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald Lemons, the moratorium will pause evictions will the Northam […]
Governor: Lee monument must come down ASAP
“I am directing the Department of General Services to remove the statue of Robert E. Lee as soon as possible,” Gov. Ralph Northam declared at a news conference Thursday, flanked by a Lee descendant, the Rev. Robert W. Lee IV, and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. “It was wrong then, and it is wrong now, so […[...]
Much of Virginia to enter Phase Two reopening Friday
Much of Virginia will enter Phase Two of Gov. Ralph Northam’s “Forward Virginia” reopening plan on Friday, with restaurants and gyms able to offer limited indoor service, the governor announced during his Tuesday news briefing. Northern Virginia and Richmond will remain at Phase One, however, Northam said, addi[...]
Virginia enters June with 45,398 COVID-19 cases
The Virginia Department of Health reported 45,398 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 on Monday, an increase of 791 from the previous day. There are 1,392 deaths, 17 more than on Friday, and 1,371 people who are positive or have test results pending are hospitalized in the state, according to the Virginia Hospital & Hea[...]
Governor declares state of emergency over protests
Following nights of heated and violent nationwide protests in response to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Gov. Ralph Northam has declared a state of emergency and activated the state National Guard to assist local law enforcement in quelling “escalating violence across the commonwealth.” “Thi[...]
Va. COVID-19 cases pass 42,000 on Friday
Virginia has 42,533 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases statewide Friday, an increase of 1,132 cases since Thursday. There are 1,358 deaths related to the coronavirus, 20 more than Thursday, and the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association reports that 1,524 people with positive and pending test results are currently hos[...]
Mask mandate is a ‘personal responsibility,’ Northam counsel says
As Virginia’s mask mandate goes into effect Friday, both Gov. Ralph Northam and Rita Davis, counsel to the governor, told residents Thursday that it’s their personal responsibility to wear a mask in businesses and other enclosed public places. Davis clarified the enforcement process of Executive Order 63, which re[...]
Kaine, Holton test positive for COVID-19 antibodies
Sen. Tim Kaine announced Thursday that he and his wife, George Mason University interim President Anne Holton, have both tested positive for COVID-19, having taken antibody tests recently. He said in a statement that both have been symptom-free since mid-April. “I tested positive for the flu earlier this year and was given[...]
Nation reaches 100,000 virus deaths; 1,338 in Virginia
As the nation passed 100,000 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, the Virginia Department of Health recorded 1,338 virus-related deaths in the state Thursday, an increase of 57 over the past 24 hours. VDH also reported 41,401 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases Thursday, an increase of 1,152 cases since Wednesday. According to the Virgi[...]
402K+ Virginians still unemployed, although initial claims fall
More than 402,000 Virginians are still unemployed following the economic devastation from the COVID-19 pandemic, though the number of initial jobless claims in the commonwealth continues to decrease. About 39,000 Virginians filed initial claims for unemployment last week, down from roughly 44,000 the prior week, according to the[...]
Governor denies Richmond mayor’s request for “modified” reopening
In a letter released Tuesday night, Gov. Ralph Northam turned down Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney’s request to enter a “modified” Phase One of the Forward Virginia reopening plan Friday, restricting houses of worship, barber shops and other grooming businesses from opening in the city. “I would point out that nothing requires any house of worship […]