Va. COVID-19 cases rise past 8,000
Update, Sunday, April 19: The Virginia Department of Health reported 8,537 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide Sunday, a jump of 484 since Saturday. Also, there are now 277 deaths and 1,422 people hospitalized in the 9 a.m. update, as well as 54,733 people who have been tested in Virginia. According to the Johns Hopkins University statistics available […]
Virginia is ‘pivoting away’ from field hospitals
Virginia is “pivoting away” from needing field hospitals to handle patient overflow because health systems believe they’ll be able to manage any surge in COVID-19 cases, said Dr. Danny Avula, the director of Richmond and Henrico County’s health departments, Friday evening. “We have not seen any significant incr[...]
Roanoke County laying off 287 part-time workers
Roanoke County announced Friday it will lay off 287 part-time employees, many of whom work in the parks and recreation department. The layoff will start April 24 and “is intended to be temporary, pending future economic conditions,” according to a news release. The cuts affect 232 parks and recreation workers, 50 in public libraries and […]
Northam issues order to expand state health care workforce
With an estimated 30,000 medical workers needed in the event of a surge of COVID-19 cases in Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam has issued an executive order aimed at making it easier for nurse practitioners, fourth-year medical students, residents, interns and out-of-state doctors to assist hospitals and long-term care facilities wit[...]
VMFA furloughs 221 part-time staffers, effective April 26
In an email to Virginia Museum of Fine Arts members, Director and CEO Alex Nyerges said Friday that all part-time wage staff members who are “not performing mission-critical services” will be furloughed, effective April 26. The furlough will affect 221 people, a spokesperson said. This will give the employees an oppo[...]
Virginia breaks record, reporting 602 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours
Virginia has seen its largest one-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases — 602 more since Thursday, according to the Virginia Department of Health’s update Friday, April 17. The state has 7,491 cases. The previous one-day record, set on Saturday, was 568. The health department also reported 231 deaths, 1,221 hospitalizations and 48,997 people tested for […]
Fairfax County establishes $2.5M small business loan fund
Fairfax County announced Thursday that it has established the Fairfax County Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Fund — a $2.5 million fund to support small businesses that have suffered economic hardship during the pandemic. The recovery fund will make no-interest loans of up to $20,000 to eligible businesses. In order to apply, the small business must […]
More than 100k Virginians filed for unemployment last week
More than 100,000 Virginians filed initial claims for unemployment last week, according to a news release Thursday afternoon from the Virginia Unemployment Commission. During the week that ended on April 11, Virginia saw 104,619 workers file for unemployment, bringing the most recent four-week total to 410,762. If 67,000 more Vi[...]
SBA Paycheck Protection Program runs dry, as expected
The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) relief fund officially ran dry Thursday morning, as expected. “The SBA is currently unable to accept new applications for the Paycheck Protection Program based on available appropriations funding,” according to the SBA’s PPP page. Small businesses that receive the forgivable loans are allowed to […][...]
Northam: Life may not return to normal soon
As Virginia remains under a stay-at-home order until June 10, Gov. Ralph Northam said Wednesday that even as restrictions ease, it’s not likely that life will return to the way it was until there is a vaccination or treatment for COVID-19. “Together we will figure out how to build a new normal,” Northam said du[...]
Number of Va. coronavirus cases now at 6,500; deaths near 200
The number of COVID-19 cases in Virginia is now at 6,500, according to the Virginia Department of Health’s Wednesday, April 15 update at 9 a.m., 329 more than reported Tuesday. The number of confirmed virus-related deaths is at 195, 41 more than 24 hours ago, and 1,048 people are now hospitalized with the virus. VDH […]
45 virus deaths recorded at Henrico County nursing home
Canterbury Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center announced Tuesday that the number of COVID-19 deaths among residents has risen to 45, including three fatalities over the past 24 hours. The Henrico County long-term nursing facility reported that 83 living residents have tested positive; many have shown no symptoms, but some are receiving care in regional hospitals or […]