Va. officials ‘reviewing’ new CDC mask guidance
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance Thursday that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — meaning they received their final shots at least two weeks earlier — can stop wearing masks and maintaining social distance in most indoor and outdoor areas. So, what does that mean for Virginia[...]
Vaccination of adolescents age 12+ starting now in Virginia
With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s approval late Wednesday afternoon, Virginia public health authorities gave their OK to expanding Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shots to children ages 12 and older Wednesday night. In an update Thursday, state vaccination coordinator Dr. Danny Avula said that schools around th[...]
Virginia awaiting CDC approval before vaccinating kids ages 12-15
Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday expanded its emergency use authorization of the Pfizer Inc. COVID-19 vaccine to include children ages 12 and older, Virginia will wait for action from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before administering shots to adolescents, state vaccination coordinator Dr[...]
Northam: Many restrictions likely to be lifted June 15
Virginia will relax most COVID-19 mitigation measures by June 15 if vaccination numbers continue to increase and spread of the virus continues to decrease, Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday, but lifting the face mask mandate will likely take longer. “We will continue to evaluate our mask guidance,” the governor added,[...]
AMPAC expanding Petersburg operation, adding 156 jobs
AMPAC Fine Chemicals plans to grow its Petersburg manufacturing facility, investing $25 million and creating 156 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. AMPAC manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and is a partner with Richmond-based Phlow Corp., Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medicines for All Institute and nonprofit drugmaker Civica Inc., on a federally funded, $354 million contract […][...]
Reston-based Maximus gets $951M contract for national COVID hotline
Reston-based government services company Maximus has received a potential $951 million contract to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 national surge support and vaccine assistance hotline. In the early months of the pandemic, Maximus staffed a 500-person CDC call center to respond to call and emails from health care providers and the […]
COVID roundup: Northern Va. could reach herd immunity by June/July
According to the University of Virginia Biocomplexity Institute, estimated rates of “vaccine acceptance” — residents’ willingness to be vaccinated — differ regionally and could delay herd immunity in some parts of the state. The U.Va. report, released April 30, shows that an estimated 88% of Northern Virgin[...]
Aditxt to produce 300 jobs in Richmond
A biotech company is setting up shop in Richmond and is expected to produce 300 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday. California-based Aditx Therapeutics Inc. (Aditxt) has pledged to invest $31.5 million over the next three years in its first AditxtScore Center, a facility that will monitor patients’ immune systems. The company plans to open […]
‘An awakening’
The headaches of getting to a doctor’s appointment in traffic on Northern Virginia roads drove the Virginia Pediatric Group to invest in telehealth capabilities years before anyone had heard of COVID-19. “I felt it was a way to improve access and to conduct follow-up visits with adolescents who were busy with after-school ac[...]
Northam partly rolls back Va. mask mandate
Virginians will still need to wear masks indoors and at large, crowded events outside, but Gov. Ralph Northam amended his executive order Thursday to allow fully vaccinated people — meaning those who received their final COVID-19 vaccine dose at least two weeks earlier — to remove their masks outdoors in small gatherings, fo[...]
UVA Health taps chief ambulatory operations officer
UVA Health has named John C. Bennett its new chief ambulatory operations officer, overseeing all UVA Health clinical outpatient operations effective July 1. Bennett comes from PeaceHealth, a nonprofit health care system with facilities in Alaska, Oregon and Washington, where he was chief executive of ambulatory services. “UVA [...]
VCU names two vice presidents
Matthew A. Conrad and Karah L. Gunther will become vice presidents starting May 1 at Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System, the university announced Wednesday. Conrad has been named vice president for government and external relations for VCU and VCU Health System, a promotion from his previous position as e[...]