Virginia sees increase in COVID-19 cases for second week
COVID-19 cases increased slightly last week in Virginia for the second week in a row, although the number of deaths during the same period was down a bit. The Virginia Department of Health reported 3,920 new cases for the week ending July 3, up from 3,724 the previous week. The seven-day positivity rate reported Monday […]
The front line
Before the pandemic, disaster meant something different to most people — even hospital workers. “It’s preparing for worst-case scenarios,” says Dr. Sandy Simons, an emergency room physician at Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital. “When you talk about disaster medicine, you train for a bomb going off.” A single [...]
For the Record — July 2020
EASTERN VIRGINIA Armada Hoffler Properties Inc., the Virginia Beach-based commercial developer and property owner, announced in early April that a $106.5 million deal to sell seven of its grocery-anchored shopping centers had fallen through because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, in early June, the deal was back on, this time for $90 million. The buyer […]
State directs $30M to health care providers struggling from pandemic
Amid the COVID-19 public health crisis, Gov. Ralph Northam on Tuesday approved an estimated $30 million in emergency support for primary care doctors, pediatricians and other health care providers who offer general health care services to Virginia Medicaid members, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) announced Tuesday. “By taking action to support these frontline […]
Slight uptick in COVID-19 cases, deaths last week
Virginia saw a slight increase in COVID-19 cases last week, with the Virginia Department of Health reporting 3,724 new cases for the week ending June 29, up from 3,579 the previous week. The state reported 120 new deaths from the coronavirus during the same time period, bringing the state death toll for the pandemic to […]
Health care providers fear cancellation of telehealth coverage after pandemic ceases
FAIRFAX, Va. — Meg Fregoso, a nurse practitioner, used to see patients who previously had a lung transplant at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Now she uses telehealth to meet patients. Fregoso is one of many health care providers offering more telehealth services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, providers are concerned that they will no longer […]
Sentara opens $93.5M Brock Cancer Center in Norfolk
Norfolk-based Sentara Healthcare announced Friday it has opened the $93.5 million, 253,000-square-foot Sentara Brock Cancer Center, a patient treatment and care facility in Norfolk. The facility, which started construction in March 2018, opened to patients on June 1. It’s named for philanthropists Joan Brock and her late[...]
State directs nearly $250M to long-term care facilities for COVID-19
Because a majority of COVID-19 outbreaks in Virginia have occurred in long-term care facilities, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday that the state will direct nearly $250 million to these facilities for coronavirus response, with most of the funding coming from federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. Northam has also directed the […]
Virus cases spike among Latino population in Richmond area
The Richmond region has seen a dramatic increase in the number of COVID-19 cases among Latinos because of workplace spread, health officials reported Friday. Although Hispanics make up only 6.5% of the population in the city of Richmond, they represent 30% of all virus cases and 30% of hospitalized patients there, said Richmond [...]
Focused Ultrasound Foundation names board members
The Focused Ultrasound Foundation, based in Charlottesville, announced Thursday it has named two Virginia executives to its board of directors: Scott C. Beardsley, University of Virginia Darden School of Business dean, and Mike Lincoln, Cooley LLP global business department chair. Beardsley became the Darden School’s dean in 2015 and is also the Charles C. Abbott […]
Valley Health welcomes new president, CEO
Winchester-based Valley Health welcomed new president and CEO Mark Nantz to the regional health care system on June 1. He succeeds previous president and CEO Mark Merrill, who held the position for 11 years. Nantz most previously was the chief administrative officer and Atlantic group president with Bon Secours Mercy Health. He [...]
Impact of reopening on COVID-19 rates may not be known till late June
As the state enters week four of reopening, the Virginia Department of Health probably won’t know if there’s a broad increase in COVID-19 cases until late June, State Health Commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver said Wednesday. Because of the virus’ two-week incubation time, plus time for testing and reporting results to [...]