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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 […]
First COVID-19 death reported in Loudoun; Va. toll now at 14
The Loudoun County Health Department reported its first COVID-19 death Thursday afternoon, bringing the total fatalities in Virginia to 14. The patient was a woman in her 70s who died from respiratory failure caused by the virus. She was hospitalized, according to a press release from the county. “We are saddened by the first confirmed […]
Va. COVID-19 cases are higher among men and those 50+
More than half of Virginia’s 460 confirmed COVID-19 cases are among men and people older than age 50, according to demographic information released Thursday by the Virginia Department of Health about the Virginians who are known to have contracted the novel coronavirus so far. Men have contracted the virus at a slightly h[...]
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 Downs Group will pay Rosie’s employees through April
After closing its popular Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums and the Colonial Downs Racetrack in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Colonial Downs Group announced Wednesday that it will pay all company employees through April and will also transition its Rosie’s Kitchens to providing 20,000 free “grab and go” meals fo[...]
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[...]
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[...]
