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.

Governor Northam Issues Statewide Stay at Home Order

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Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of Governor Ralph S. Northam
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE · March 30, 2020
Office of the Governor
Governor Northam Issues Statewide
Stay at Home Order
RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today issued a statewide Stay at Home order to protect the health and safety of Virginians and mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. The executive order takes effect immediately and will remain in place until June 10, 2020, unless amended or rescinded by a further executive order.
The order directs all Virginians to stay home except in extremely limited circumstances. Individuals may leave their residence for allowable travel, including to seek medical attention, work, care for family or household members, obtain goods and services like groceries, prescriptions, and others as outlined in Executive Order Fifty-Three, and engage in outdoor activity with strict social distancing requirements.
The executive order also directs all Virginia institutions of higher education to stop in-person classes and instruction. Private campgrounds must close for short-term stays, and beaches will be closed statewide except for fishing and exercise.
“We are in a public health crisis, and we need everyone to take this seriously and act responsibly,” said Governor Northam. “Our message to Virginians is clear: stay home. We know this virus spreads primarily through human-to-human contact, and that’s why it’s so important that people follow this order and practice social distancing. I’m deeply grateful to everyone for their cooperation during this unprecedented and difficult time.”
The full text of Executive Order Fifty-Five can be found here.
Last week, Governor Northam issued Executive Order Fifty-Three closing certain non-essential businesses, prohibiting public gatherings of more than 10 people, and directing all K-12 schools to remain closed for the rest of the academic year. A Frequently Asked Questions guide about Executive Order Fifty-Three can be found here.
For the latest information about the COVID-19 outbreak, visit virginia.gov/coronavirusor CDC.gov/coronavirus.

City Council Sets Special Electronic Meeting to Consider Continuity and Policy, and Discuss Tax Relief Related to COVID-19 Pandemic

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The City Council will hold a “Special Meeting by Electronic Communications Means” on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at 6 p.m. to consider four items to address the COVID-19 pandemic emergency; and to discuss tax relief necessitated by the pandemic.

People wanting to comment should follow a two-step registration process:

  1. Register at https://vbgov.webex.com/vbgov/onstage/g.php?MTID=e871f2421f8196abfb20bee4e6e94208f

  2. Register with the City Clerk’s Office by calling (757) 385-4303or via email at ABarnes@vbgov.com prior to 5:30 p.m. on March 31, 2020.

GOVERNOR NORTHAM LIVE PRESS CONFERENCE 2pm TODAY

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Everyone Must Do Their Part: Mayor Urges Compliance to Stop the Spread of COVID-19

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Businesses in violation of Governor Northam’s Executive Order may be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor, which in punishable by up to 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both.

However, if you must go out, it doesn’t matter whether you are walking along the boardwalk, standing in line for food at a restaurant or shopping inside a home improvement store. Do not congregate in groups and keep six feet away from other people. It is as simple–and as important–as that if we are going to contain the outbreak.

Sentara Healthcare warns people about COVID-19 in-home testing scam

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Story at 13NewsNow.com

In one of its COVID-19 email updates, Sentara said: “We are heartsick that in the midst of a national health crisis, scammers would use our name to prey on worried people.”

Sentara said the person who got the call contacted it, and Sentara, in turn, reached out to police

“Sentara Healthcare said Thursday test results for the coronavirus could take 10 or more days”

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Story at SouthsideDaily.com:

Young said there is a very small percentage of tests being sent to the state lab because the Virginia Department of Health requires patients tested to meet certain criteria, such as travel history and particular symptoms.

People who don’t meet the criteria have to look to private labs for answers which creates a backlog.

Our Volunteers are now required to wear a face mask on every call.

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