Author Archives: Tim

Governor Outlines Phased Plan to Safely, Gradually Ease Restrictions

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View at Governor.Virginia.gov:

May 4, 2020—Governor Ralph Northam outlined a three-phase plan to ease restrictions on businesses and gatherings, when health data supports doing so.

Governor Northam said he will extend key provisions of Executive Order 53, which places restrictions on businesses and gatherings of more than 10 people, at least through next Thursday, May 14, at midnight. The Northam administration will continue to monitor health data to ensure that trends of positive cases are going downward, that hospital capacity remains steady, that testing is increased, and that hospitals and medical facilities have necessary supplies of PPE. For more information on key metrics, please see here.

Phase I of easing restrictions would continue social distancing, teleworking, recommendations that people wear face coverings in public, and the ban on social gatherings of more than 10 people. It would ease some limits on business and faith communities, and would transition the stay at home directive to a “safer at home” guideline, especially for those in vulnerable populations.

It is expected that Phase I would last two to four weeks, as would the two subsequent phases, depending on health metrics.

More specific guidance on each phase will be available in the coming days. Slides from the Governor’s briefing are available here.

Accurate, reliable information about COVID-19 can be found on the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) website.

Click to view slides from press conference.

View VIRGINIA FORWARD BLUEPRINT here.

View DATA BRIEFING MAY 4 2020 here.

Governor Northam Unveils Blueprint for Easing Public Health Restrictions

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Read entire news release:

‘Forward Virginia’ blueprint informed by diverse health and business stakeholders, includes testing, tracing, and PPE priorities

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today presented the “Forward Virginia” blueprint, which will help guide the Commonwealth on when to safely begin easing public health restrictions. The blueprint includes a phased approach that is grounded in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and has specific goals to contain the spread of the virus through increased testing, personal protective equipment and supplies, and medical capacity.

“We will move forward, but in a way that prioritizes public health and builds public confidence,” said Governor Northam. “Businesses know that customers will return only when they feel that it is safe to do so. Our blueprint for the path forward is data-driven and provides clear guidance, so Virginians will know what to expect and understand how we will decide to when to lift certain public health restrictions.”

Virginia is looking at a wide range of public health data. The Governor emphasized that key indicators will include a 14-day downward trend in confirmed cases as a percentage of overall tests and in reduced COVID-19 hospitalizations. While hospitalization rates have largely stabilized in the Commonwealth, confirmed cases continue to rise.

The Forward Virginia blueprint includes the following priorities:

TESTING AND TRACING

To ensure the continued safety of Virginians, the Commonwealth aims to test at least 10,000 individuals per day. Karen Remley, former Commissioner of Health and current co-chair of Virginia’s Testing Work Group, outlined a four stage approach to meet this goal prior to safe reopening. The expanded testing plan includes hiring contact tracers, who will support local health departments in identifying individuals who may be exposed to COVID-19 and helping them self-isolate.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical to ramping up testing, ensuring the safety of healthcare staff, and expanding the medical workforce. Virginia’s PPE pipeline is improving, and hospitals are successfully managing their supplies. The Governor cautioned that safely easing restrictions will require an ongoing stable PPE supply chain across all sectors of healthcare, and ensuring that the supply is regularly replenished.

Virginia has ordered 17.4 million N95 masks, 8.3 million surgical masks, 17.1 million gloves, 1.7 million gowns, and 1 million face shields. This includes a contract signed jointly with Maryland and the District of Columbia for 5 million N95 masks.

Governor Northam announced that a second shipment from Northfield Medical Manufacturing is scheduled to arrive today and will be promptly distributed. The latest shipment includes 3 million nitrile exam gloves, 100,000 N95 masks, 500,000 3-ply procedure masks, and 40,000 isolation gowns.

HOSPITAL CAPACITY AND STAFF

Hospitalizations and ICU admissions are largely stable across Virginia, even as case counts continue to rise. To ensure continued capacity as Virginia move towards “Phase One” of easing restrictions, Governor Northam yesterday extended the ban on elective surgeries through May 1 and expanded the ability of physicians’ assistants and nurse practitioners with two or more years of clinical experience to practice without a collaborative agreement.

The Virginia Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) continues to recruit and deploy medical and non-medical volunteers to bolster the work of local health departments, hospitals, and healthcare providers. The MRC currently has over 16,500 trained volunteers, more than halfway to Virginia’s goal of 30,000.

PHASE ONE OF EASING RESTRICTIONS

Governor Northam outlined key benchmarks Virginians can expect in the first phase, which will begin no sooner than two weeks from now to allow for a 14-day downward trend in confirmed COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Phase one includes continued social distancing, teleworking, limits on travel and public gatherings, and recommended use of face coverings. Any easing of restrictions will be informed by public health experts, members of the Governor’s COVID-19 Business Task Force, state and local officials, and other stakeholders.

The Commonwealth is developing two sets of guidance: one with broad based recommendations for all businesses, and another with industry specific recommendations for public-facing businesses like restaurants and non-essential retail. The guidance will be provided to businesses in early May.

The slides from today’s presentation are available here.

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“Current social distancing efforts starting March 15 have paused the growth of the epidemic in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In this scenario, “paused” growth means that the rate of new cases is holding steady rather than increasing.”

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View yesterday’s Governor’s briefing here.

Key takeaways from infectious disease models developed by the UVA Biocomplexity Institute include:

  • Current social distancing efforts starting March 15 have paused the growth of the epidemic in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In this scenario, “paused” growth means that the rate of new cases is holding steady rather than increasing.

  • Current trends suggest that Virginia’s statewide hospital bed capacity will be sufficient in the near future.

  • Lifting social distancing restrictions too soon can quickly lead to a second wave.

And:

“Currently, it appears as if the Commonwealth of Virginia is tracking with the pause scenario, which means that the residents of Virginia are doing an excellent job with mitigation,” said Bryan Lewis, Research Associate Professor for the Network Systems Science and Advanced Computing division for the Institute.

Additional links from Press Release includes:

RAND Healthcare Virginia COVID19 Models Initial Analysis.

Estimation of COVID-19 Impact in Virginia April 13, 2020 (data current to April 11, 2020) Biocomplexity Institute Technical report: TR-2020-048

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UVA Biocomplexity Institute report includes:

BIOCOMPLEXITY COVID-19 RESPONSE RESOURCES at UVA.

CURRENT SOCIAL DISTANCING EFFORTS ARE WORKING

How Privacy-Friendly Contact Tracing Can Help Stop the Spread of Covid-19

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h/t Kottke.org

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/04/apple-and-google-partner-on-covid-19-contact-tracing-technology/

Virginia Uses Genetic Technology to Combat COVID-19

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Governor News Release:

“This genetic fingerprint gives us tremendous insight into this novel virus, helping us understand where Virginia cases originated and how they are being transmitted in our communities,” said DCLS Director Dr. Denise Toney. “Providing this information in real-time is unbelievably valuable for public health officials as they determine how to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in our communities.”

Birthday visits by Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad!

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Learn more at OPVRS.com

If your child has a birthday between now and June 10th and their birthday plans have been canceled or postponed due to COVID-19, please message us and let us know! If you live in our Shore Drive response area, spanning from First Court Rd to Cox High School in Virginia Beach, we would love to do an ambulance drive by to wish them a happy birthday.

Trash, recycling, yard waste, and bulky item services will operate on a one-day delay this week

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News at VBGOV.com

For example, Tuesday routes will be collected on Wednesday. Wednesday routes will be collected on Thursday. Thursday routes on Friday, and Friday routes on Saturday, April 11.

“We are still in the early stages of this outbreak, but we must ensure that Virginia is ready when the surge of acute cases hits our healthcare system,”

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Story at Virginia Mercury:

The facilities — the Dulles Expo Center in Northern Virginia and the Richmond and Hampton Roads convention centers — will be able to provide beds for 1,107 acute patients or 1,848 non-acute patients, Northam said Friday.

“Sentara Healthcare is now processing COVID-19 tests at a newly-created laboratory in Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.”

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View update at Sentara.com:

The project involved the purchase and delivery of an Abbott m2000 RealTime testing instrument, related equipment and supplies, creation of a dedicated COVID-19 testing lab in a former laboratory conference room and train staff to use it in less than two weeks. 

“Sentara is fortunate to have the resources to respond to this crisis and begin our own testing within a few weeks,” says Tabetha Sundin, Ph.D., scientific director of the Sentara Molecular Laboratory. “Waiting for test results can be nerve-wracking for our patients. We are doing all we can to speed up results and provide answers.”

CITY COUNCIL SETS SPECIAL ELECTRONIC MEETING TO DISCUSS TAX DEFERRALS; SUSPENSION OF THE MEAL TAX; REDUCTION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE; EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS AND MORE RELATED TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

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Latest update from VBGov.com Emergency Coronavirus page:

April 3, 2020

The City Council will hold a “Special Meeting by Electronic Communications Means” on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at 3 p.m. to discuss tax deferrals; suspension of the meal tax; reduction of personal property tax rate; and areas for expenditure reductions necessitated by the pandemic. The City Council will also provide guidance to staff for preparation of any necessary resolutions or ordinances for Council’s consideration at a subsequent City Council Special Session.

Following the discussion, the City Council may consider the adoption of an item to address tax relief necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic in the form of an ordinance to suspend provisions of the City Code regarding penalties and interest upon certain local taxes during the pandemic, which is sponsored by Council Member John Moss.

While citizen comments will not be heard during this meeting, citizens are encouraged to submit comments to the City Council prior to the special meeting via email at CityCouncil@vbgov.com. The current Council agenda can be viewed online at VBgov.com.

The City Council will not be at City Hall (Building 1), which will remain closed to the public. The meeting can be viewed live on VBTV (Cox channel 48 & Verizon channel 45), online at VBgov.com/media and on Facebook.com/CityofVaBeach.

For the latest information, please visit emergency.vbgov.com/coronavirus and follow us on facebook.com/CityofVaBeach, twitter.com/CityofVaBeach and instagram.com/cityofvabeach.

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Message from EMS Operations Chief Lewis: 4/2/2020

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How to SUPPORT your Rescue Squad today.

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad
Chesapeake Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad
VB Emergency Medical Services

P R A C T I C E S O C I A L D I S T A N C I N G

City Council Special Session – 03/31/2020 video

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We applaud City Staff for getting these videos online this fast!

“Scientific models of how the coronavirus pandemic will unfold in Virginia vary wildly, but there is one thing they all agree on: The more people take social distancing seriously, the smaller the number of those who will get sick and die.”

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Pilotonline.com:

“We don’t want to have the numbers we have in Virginia, but we do,” said Daniel Carey, Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resource at a Monday press conference. “And we can help use that real data to land on a model that we feel comfortable predicting and planning on.”

State officials are using a model created by University of Virginia researchers with the Defense Reduction Agency to plan for the state’s healthcare needs. They want to release it soon, when they feel they have enough data, said Dr. Norman Oliver, Virginia’s Health Commissioner.