Va. coronavirus cases hit 600+ mark
As Virginia saw its largest 24-hour increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases Friday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam called on President Donald Trump and the federal government to implement a “national solution” for supplying front-line medical workers and first responders with much-needed protective gear and medical equipme[...]
Va. jobless claims reach record high amid COVID-19 crisis
A record-breaking 46,885 Virginians filed for unemployment benefits last week amid the economic nosedive that has accompanied the COVID-19 crisis, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics released Thursday. The previous record for initial unemployment claims in Virginia was 25,133 in December 1989, according to a report released Thursday from the Dragas Center for Economic Analysis […][...]
Fourth resident dies from COVID-19 at Henrico nursing home
A fourth resident has died from COVID-19 at Canterbury Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, the long-term care nursing home in western Henrico County where 17 residents and six staff members have tested positive for the novel coronavirus over the past 12 days. Two patients from the center are receiving treatment at a regional hospital and 11 […]
An aerial view of drone industry during COVID-19
Virginia Business virtually sat down with Tom Walker, founder and CEO of DroneUp, a Virginia Beach-based company that provides end-to-end aerial data services to the commercial sector, government and pilots to get a feel for how his drone company has adapted to doing business during the coronavirus crisis. This is part of an ong[...]
SCC rejects large portion of Dominion’s grid upgrade plan
UPDATED MARCH 27, 10 A.M. The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) on Thursday put the brakes on a major portion of Dominion Energy Inc.’s proposed $7 billion, 10-year plan for electrical grid upgrades, saying it was “due to the projected heavy costs to customers without adequate benefits.” The SCC approved some parts of the plan’s […]
State looks to private industry for protective medical gear
UPDATED MARCH 27, 4 P.M. This week, Virginia received its first shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) for front-line health care workers from the federal government’s Strategic National Stockpile, but that supply is falling far short of the demand that will be needed for the COVID-19 pandemic, so Gov. Ralph North[...]
Va. hospitals projected to run out of beds within 6 months
If only 20% of Virginia adults contracted COVID-19, hospitals in all major metro regions across Virginia would be overwhelmed, running out of hospital beds within the next six months, according to data from the Harvard Global Health Institute. The most staggering results from the Harvard study come from the Arlington hospital r[...]
Colonial Williamsburg closing most hotels, furloughing staff
In response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic, Colonial Williamsburg is expanding its closures to include most of its hotels and will furlough most hospitality staff after April 11. The already-financially challenged history tourism foundation has also immediately instituted pay cuts for all employees making more than $50,000 per[...]
Truist commits $2M to small businesses hurt by pandemic
Truist Financial Corp. is donating $2 million to community development financial institutions to support grants to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in states served by the bank. “Small businesses are significantly affected by the steps the nation is taking to combat COVID-19, and it’s important we s[...]
VCU Health develops COVID-19 test kit
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System announced Wednesday that it has developed a COVID-19 test that it will administer to inpatients through a pilot program. Tests will be administered primarily to patients who have severe symptoms and are hospitalized within the VCU Health System, dependent on supply. The goal is to g[...]
Northam calls out Falwell for bringing Liberty students back to campus
UPDATED 6:40 P.M., MARCH 25 As Lynchburg city officials blasted Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr., calling him “reckless” for inviting students back to campus after spring break, Gov. Ralph Northam weighed in on the brouhaha Wednesday, making a public request for the controversial conservative icon to re[...]
Henrico lab to ship 150,000 COVID-19 tests per month
Glen Allen-based GENETWORx Laboratories said it will soon begin shipping at least 800 COVID-19 test kits per day, with a goal of ramping up manufacturing enough to deliver 150,000 during the month of April. A unit of Pennsylvania-based Recovery Centers of America (RCA), GENETWORx Laboratories says it can provide test results within 24 hours of […]