April 2020

WASHINGTON – Today U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded $1,854,974 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assist the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) in supporting rural hospitals across the Commonwealth as they combat the COVID-19 crisis. The federal funding was made possible through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which allocated $150 million to assist hospitals funded through the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) respond to this public health emergency.

“Hospitals everywhere are being squeezed during this pandemic, but those in rural areas face an additional set of challenges as they strive to make the most of limited resources to treat patients and fight this crisis,” said the Senators. “We are very pleased to see this funding go towards helping rural hospitals in Virginia keep their doors open to the community and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Per the CARES Act, this flexible funding can be used to expand testing and laboratory services as well as to purchase of personal protective equipment to minimize COVID-19 exposure. 

The funding was awarded through the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) which helps states support rural hospitals with 49 beds or fewer. SHIP allows small rural hospitals to become or join accountable care organizations (ACOs), participate in shared savings programs, and purchase health information technology (hardware and software), equipment, and/or training to comply with quality improvement activities such as advancing patient care information, promoting interoperability, and payment bundling.

‘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.

On May 15, 2020, the ‘twin sisters’ will celebrate a milestone birthday, turning 90 years old.  Margaret Walker Dilworth and Annie Ruth Kirk Clarke were born during the Great Depression and during a different time in history in the United States of America.

Mrs. Dilworth tells the story that they were born twins but since they were of different races, she was given to a black family to raise and Mrs. Clarke was raised by a white family.  She laughs as she tells how they reunited while attending Brunswick High School basketball games during the years of Bryant Stith’s coaching career.  Stith is married to the former Barbara Dilworth, daughter of Margaret. 

Stith, who played in the National Basketball Association for ten years, calls the ladies ‘twin grandmas’.” 

At the games, the ladies had special seating, first bench behind the scorer’s table.  No one dared take those seats as overseen by then high school principal Mark Harrison.  His endearing term for the ladies was ‘brown sugar and white sugar.’ The two, some of the oldest fans, saw Brunswick through back-to-back-to-back State Championships in basketball. 

Mrs. Clarke was born at home near Dundas in Lunenburg County to Hinda and Luther Kirk.  Her sister, Virginia Kirk, was celebrating her fourth birthday on May 15 when sister Annie Ruth arrived.  As the story goes, Virginia wanted strawberry shortcake, not a sister.  Growing up on a tobacco farm during the Depression, she received a driver’s license at age 14 and graduated Valedictorian of Kenbridge High School after 11 grades.  She moved to Lawrenceville to work for the Brunswick Health Department, met Lloyd Clarke who ran Clarke’s Department Store with his family and they married and ran the store together until his death. They are parents to three children. 

Mrs. Dilworth was born at home in Petersburg, Virginia to Corrine and James Edward Walker as the oldest of three.  She graduated from Peabody High School and she was given the opportunity to study to become a Licensed Practical Nurse at the South Hill Hospital where she was one of three blacks in the program.  She served the Commonwealth of Virginia for 25 years at Central State Hospital in Petersburg.  She had nine children, a daughter raised by her aunt, and later seven boys and a girl with her husband Robert “Bob” Dilworth who  she married in 1950. 

This year’s celebration the twins will not be able to physically get together due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  In year’s past, there have been some great celebrations including an elaborate dinner at Mrs. Dilworth’s house given by her children.  One year, the ladies celebrated a night out to dinner at Nottoway Restaurant and all those dining  that night sang them Happy Birthday.  Mrs. Clarke is currently living at The Envoy of Lawrenceville and visitors are prohibited due the Covid-19 Virus.   Mrs. Dilworth spends time at her home in Lawrenceville or in Norfolk with her daughter. 

Since connecting at the basketball games and realizing the common birthday, the ladies spent much time together, on the telephone or visiting.  Mrs. Dilworth makes a mean sweet potato pie and often brought one over to her twin.  Mrs. Dilworth has continued to visit at the nursing home when able also. 

The beauty of their friendship is evident if you see them together or in the photos that have been taken over the years, they are such friends and share so much love.  It shows when they are together.

As the saying goes, “There are friends, and there is family, and then there are friends who become family.”

Virginia State Police also directed to take additional administrative action under expanded executive directive

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today extended the current ban on elective surgeries by one week, until May 1, and the closure of Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) public-facing offices by two weeks, until May 11. Virginia State Police are directed to continue suspending the enforcement of motor vehicle inspections and take several additional measures through July 31.

The ban on elective surgeries will continue while the Governor and State Health Commissioner M. Norman Oliver, MD, MA continue to evaluate, in conjunction with hospitals and other medical facilities, how to safely ease restrictions on non-essential medical procedures, and the availability of personal protective equipment.

“My top priority is protecting public health, and that includes ensuring that our frontline medical staff have the equipment they need to stay safe as they treat Virginians who are sick,” said Governor Northam. “We have increased our supply of PPE, but before we allow elective surgeries to resume, we must first be assured that the doctors, nurses, and medical staff who are fighting this virus or conducting emergency surgeries have the necessary supplies. We are working with medical facilities on plans to ensure that we can resume elective surgeries safely and responsibly.”

The public health emergency order does not apply to any procedure if the delay would cause harm to a patient. The order also does not apply to outpatient visits in hospital-based clinics, family planning services, or emergency needs. The full text of Public Health Emergency Order Two as amended is available here. View the Frequently Asked Questions Guide here.

Hospitals continue to treat emergency patients and perform essential surgeries, and Virginians should feel safe going to hospitals if they are experiencing a medical emergency, such as a heart attack. Governor Northam also amended Executive Order Fifty-Seven to allow licensed physician’s assistants with two or more years of clinical experience to practice without a collaborative agreement. The text of the amended executive order is available here.

Governor Northam also extended Executive Directive Seven, which closed Virginia’s 75 DMV offices and its mobile units to the public and extended the validity of driver’s licenses and vehicle credentials that were due to expire. Today’s action decrees that those credentials will be valid through July 31. Virginians who need to renew a license or vehicle registration are encouraged to do so online. Read the full text of Executive Directive Seven here.

Governor Northam expanded Executive Directive Eight, directing the Virginia State Police to suspend enforcement of the time period in which new Virginia residents must get a driver’s license or register their vehicles, the expiration of temporary license plates, and the time period in which temporary residents may operate vehicles with out-of-state plates. This directive continues the suspension of enforcement of motor vehicle inspections by Virginia State Police. While local law enforcement may still issue citations for expired vehicle inspections, Governor Northam encourages them to refrain from doing so during this pandemic. The directive is in effect until July 31. Read the full text of Executive Directive Eight here.

Due to COVID-19 and the governor’s mandated state wide school closure Greensville County Public Schools and The Improvement Association joint Child Find Registration will involve online registration and take home packets. All children who are 3 or 4 years old on or before September 30, 2020 and residents of the City of Emporia or Greensville County may register.  Pre-applications will be available online beginning April 24, 2020, on the GES Web Page, GES Facebook page, GCPS Web page, GCPS Facebook Page and GES PTO Facebook Page or you call  (434)634-3748 on Monday-Thursday from     9:00 am -2:00 pm to request an application. Upon completing the pre- application online a packet may be mailed to you.  If you have questions about completing the packet call 434 634-3748.

Child Find is registration for Head Start or Virginia Preschool Initiative.

Head Start is a federal preschool program which provides comprehensive services and learning experiences to prepare children for Kindergarten and move families toward self-sufficiency. The program also operates in compliance with IDEA to include children with special needs. All Head Start services are free to children and families.

The Virginia Preschool Initiative, established in 1995, distributes state funds to schools and community based organizations to provide quality preschool program for at-risk four-year-olds. The program offers full day Pre-kindergarten, parent involvement, child health and social services, and transportation to families with four-year-olds at risk of school failure.

“At a later date…“ You need an ADD completed Physical Examination your child’s OFFICIAL birth certificate (NOT a hospital certificate), immunization record, PROOF of residency (for example: a current water/electric bill with YOUR name and address) and verification of household income (for example: paystub, W-2, Medicaid card, TANF, SNAP, WIC, SSI).

If you have questions about completing the packet Contact: Curtis Young (434)634-3748 or Gloria Bynum (434)634-2490 x231

Richmond, VA- It is that time of year when black bear cubs and their mothers begin leaving their winter dens and exploring the landscape in search of available food resources. During this time bear cubs can become separated from their mothers for short periods of time. In almost all instances no intervention is necessary and the cubs should be left alone.

When a female bear with cubs perceives a threat, whether due to barking dogs, people in the area, or otherwise, she will often “tree” her cubs. While the cubs are still very small (normally weighing 5lbs or less) they are adept climbers! The cubs will scamper high into the tree tops and await guidance from their mother on when it is safe to come back down. The female will often leave the area, circling back periodically to check for when she feels the area is secure. If you see cubs in a tree and no female in the area, you should leave the area immediately. The female will return (often at night) and call the cubs back down when she feels there is no immediate threat to her or the cubs. Keeping the area free of disturbance (humans and particularly dogs) is critical for the female to be able to return and collect her cubs.

It is not uncommon throughout the spring for black bear cubs and their mother to return to their den, particularly during periods of inclement weather. Outdoor recreationists may come across an occupied den site (either in the winter or early spring) and should always leave the site undisturbed. The female may leave the den if startled by someone approaching the area. Do not handle or take the cubs from the den area. Leave the area immediately as the female will often return once the perceived threat is gone. This is also an important reminder to always maintain dogs on a leash when hiking so that they don’t spook a bear from the den, or attempt to pick up the cubs.

Never attempt to handle or capture a black bear cub found on your property. If the cub has a visible injury, is lethargic, or has been seen in the same location for more than 12 hours, please contact the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Wildlife Conflict Helpline, toll free at 1-855-571-9003 or if after normal business hours your local Sheriff’s office. For more information on black bears in Virginia, please visit the DGIF website and learn how you can do your part to keep bears wild: https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/bear/

Cancer doesn’t care one little bit about COVID-19, so treatment goes on and Penny, Shep & Jonathon Evans, as well as a host of friends, wanted to make that treatment process a little nicer and received a lot of help making that possible.

Penny Evans has held an event for each of the past several years to benefit cancer patients. She owns Thirty-One Gifts and asked customers and friends to donate so cancer patients at VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital’s Hendrick Cancer & Rehab Center could be blessed with a special bag of goodies.

Teresa R. Collins, RN, BSN, OCN, Director of Radiation and Medical Oncology at the Solari Radiation Center/Hendrick Cancer Center, said, “A cancer diagnosis is scary and overwhelming for patients, these care bags are a true blessing and provide joy during such a horrible time. The bags provide our patients with a centralized location to keep appointments, information packets, goodies, and personal belongings as they are coming into the center for treatment. Our patients have voiced multiple times how honored they feel to have so many members of the community supporting them through their journey. As caregivers it is extremely heartwarming to see the smiles that these bags bring to their face. Penny and her team of angels are amazing and we are extremely grateful for her continued support of our cancer program through the years.”

Thanks to generous donors listed below, Evans was able to donate 319 Chemo/Radiation Care Bags to CMH.  “This community is known for its support, especially for cancer patients,” Penny said. “They really did a wonderful job in providing bags for our community.”

Penny wanted to give special thanks to Touchstone Bank, First Citizens Bank and Dance It Out Dancers for providing some of the contents to fill the bags. Also to all those who donated to make this project a reality are listed below.

Platinum Donors (10+ bags sponsored)

• First Christian School 2/6/20 Chapel Collection - In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients Airtec -Judy & Jimmy Newman- In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Bill & Sylvia Solari - In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Fleet & Dennis Roberts - In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Michael & Donna Gregory- In Honor of Donna, my Mom, and Donna's Mom
• The Pointe Realty Group - In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Lindsey and Jason Dawson - In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients

Gold Donors (5-9 bags sponsored)

• Karobway Furniture, Robert Smith-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Michael and Katie Cieslinski-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Michelle & Scott Edmonds -In Honor of Louise Ogburn, Rebecca Laben, Scott Edmonds, & Michelle
• Edmonds. In Memory of Michelle Roberts Sasser.
• Marcia, JC, & Jaicee Clary-In Memory of Robert H. Reed, Nancy W. Reed, Hazel Luton, Everette Jones and In Honor of Sandra Stephenson
• Rozier Termite & Pest Control -In Memory of Aunt Virginia Flinn
• John & Patty Evans-In Honor of Shelia Paynter

Silver Donors (2-4 bags sponsored)

• Pam & Terry McDaniel-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Rosser & Carleen Wells-In Memory of Ann & Donnie Wells and All Cancer Patients
• Chris & Rebecca Bulluck-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Joyce & Charles Taylor-In Honor and Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Tiffany & Mike Dotti-In Honor of Nana Mabel Pulley and in Memory of Sam Bottoms and Lizzie Bottoms Kathy Sims-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Vera Primm-In Honor of Elizabeth, Tara, and Pops
• Melinda Walker-In Honor of all survivors. In Memory of those we have lost. In honor of friends /family of Cancer Patients. #NoOneFightsAlone
• Harold Vaughan-In Memory of Phyllis G. Vaughan
• Judy & Ed Carroll-In Honor of Ernestine Evans and Sandi Taylor -In Memory of Carolyn Roberts
• Sharon & Alvin Johnson-In Honor of Shelia Paynter
• Debbie Moore-In Honor of Shelia Paynter
• Lynn & Daven Lucy-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Margaret Luongo -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Chad Vaughan & Gavin Honeycutt -In Memory of Phyllis G. Vaughan and James G. Honeycutt
• Mary Hardin-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• The Carpenter's House-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Brian's Mechanical, Brian & Tonja Pearce -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Susan and Steve Creed le-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Sarah Hutson-In Honor of Barbara Moore-Cancer Survivor
• Tiffany & Jeremy Lynch-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Tim & Sandra Ittner-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Lori Kirkland-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Sybil McFarland-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Mary & Wayne Rawlings-In Memory of Ruth Rawlings
• Judy Cleaton-In Honor of Mary Carol Kallam
• Amanda & Brian Calhoun-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Jenny Davis-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Carolyn & Randy Carter-In Memory of Minnie R. Edmonds &Honor of Cha Ion Swanson
• Exit Town and Lake Realty-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• New To You Consignment, Mary Edmonds-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients Ashley & Adam Lipscomb-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Sheryl & Ricky Thomason-In Memory of Michelle Roberts Sasser & In Honor of Penny Glenn Jean Bagley-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Brittany and Henry Edmonds-In Memory of Joyce Hodges
• Sheri & Mike Sparkman-In Memory of Nancy Haggerty and Jim Libhart
• Lynn & Linda Roberts-In Memory of Wanda Jones Beville and Jau Roberts
• Jannon & Chad Coley-In Memory of Robert Higgins
• Glenn & Linda Barbour-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Betty & Warren Edwards-In Memory of Marilyn Hudson
• Angie & Lyn Mills-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Virginia Hall-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Martha & Bobby Overton -In Memory of Carolyn Roberts & In Honor of Sandi Taylor
• Susan & Mike Moody-In Memory of Charles Hudson & In Honor of Shelia Paynter
• Jasmine & Todd Cage -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Niki Shingleton -In Memory of Jennie Spielman & Angie Hepner
• Candy McAvoy-In Honor of All Cancer Warriors
• Shannon Crutchfield & Joseph Curtis -In Honor of Aunt Diane Kleis and Sylvia Jones
• Lisa and Mike Pugh -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Lisa Graham -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• CiCi and Robbie Carroll -In Honor of Melinda Walker & Ernestine Evans
• Terry Daniels -For Robert Lewis Daniels
• Tanya Baskerville -Memory of Wendy Boyter Jackson & George Baskerville
• Holly Fadool Painter -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Jennie Inge -In Memory of Earl Newman & Connie King
• Dr. Desidero & Genevieve Rimon-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Marianne & Chris Early -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Ashley and Shawn Hardee -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Alexa Jackson -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Susan & Bitty Freeman -In Memory of Eddie Allen & Lois Taylor
• Jessica & Austin Lafoon -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Danny Mason -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients

Bronze Donors (1 bag sponsored)

• Nancy & Kell Fleshood-In Honor of Sandy Adcock Taylor
• Kaye Bagley-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Charles & Ann Butts-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Teri & Troy Walker -In Honor Ernestine Evans
• Crystal & Chris Murphy-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Tammy & Steve White-In Honor of Eli Newcomb
• Jane & Mike Allen-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Stacy & Wade Archer-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Tammy and John Manning-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Katherine Crutchfield-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Mitzi and Tracy Powell-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Peggie and Robert Powell-In Memory of "Jack"Burns
• Todd Jackson -In Memory of Wendy Boyter Jackson
• Beth & Mickey Smith-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Alicia & Guy Short-In Memory of Michelle Roberts Sasser & In Honor of Sandi Taylor Brenda Curtis-In Memory of Alice Dawson
• Judy & Chuck Martin-In Memory of Bobby Garrett
• Jennifer Allman-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Holly & Chris McFarland -In Memory of Earl and Shirley Sasser
• Candi, Atlas, & Reid Allen-In Memory of Dallas Allen
• Kris & Scott Walker-In Honor of Our Moms
• Barbara Moore-In Honor of Sisters-Cancer Survivors Judi Newman & Betsy Quicke Thelma Baird-In Honor of Jimmy Vaughan
• Ernestine & Billy Evans-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Beverly Edwards-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Janice & Ken Currin -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Karen Myers-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Carol Ann Chapman-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Kim & Keith Corum-In Memory of Stephanie Kennedy Wilbur
• Debbie Douglas-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Carri lee Spence-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Patricia Rogers-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Kim & Brent Evans -In Honor of Ernestine Evans
• Robin & Tim Newton-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Miki Baird-In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Terry & Shep Moss -In Memory of William Henry Wilson
• Bonnie Jackson -In Memory of Nancy Lucille Thomas
• Billy and Kathy Coffee -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Shelley & Chuck Mayer-In Honor of Shelia Paynter
• Denny & Cathy Hardee-In Memory of David Hawkins, who lost his battle with cancer on 2/9/20
• Stacy Farrar -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Lynn and Everette Gibson -In Memory of Lavenia Gibson
• Nancy Jacobs -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Shelia and Calvin Paynter -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Johnna Maurice -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Tammy Parker -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Hope & Tommy Zincone -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Rita & Alvin Parham -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Susan Lucy-In Memory of Lavenia Gibson
• Gloria & Carrol Roberts -In Memory of Michelle Roberts Sasser
• Janet Hayes -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Carol Barker-In Honor of Shelia Paynter
• Rose Towell -In Memory of John Towell
• Sandi & Mark Kidd -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Lindsey Smith -In Memory of Michelle Roberts Sasser
• Tina Wells -In Memory of Louise Horne
• Scott, Devon, Kaisley, & Kyndall -In Memory of Pleas Jackson & Michelle Roberts Sasser & In Honor of Elaine Clary
• Anita Kallam -In Memory of Greg Upton
• Helen Gordon -In Memory of Polly Gordon
• Timi Garcia -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Donna Wall -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Elma Wilkinson -In Memory of Terry Callahan & Rusty Callahan
• Becky Barnes Lewis -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Betsy & Jimmy Clayton-In Honor of Joyce M. Perkinson
• Diane & Larry Parker -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Dottie Collins -In Honor of Teresa Collins and the CMH Oncology Dept.
• Diana Crowder -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Kris & Patricia Reed -In Memory of Faye Moseley
• Debbie Piercy-In Memory Michelle Sasser
• Vanessa Rudd -In Honor of Shelia Paynter
• Elaine & Sherman Maitland -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Aileen Lewis -In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Carrie Poythress -In Memory of Sandy Hamer
• Crissy Carter -In Memory of Mama, Virginia Clark
• Joy Hofler -In Honor of Shelia Paynter
• Candice, Jason, Zoey, & Allie Riggan -In Honor of Mama/Gammy, Shelia Paynter
• Wendy Pheil -In Honor of JCH
• Maria Ford - In Honor of Lounell Stallings
• Angie & Bryant Thomas - In Memory of Maude Thomas
• Gwen & Steve Hinzman -In Honor of Susan Wilfong
• Shannon Cunningham- In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Jeanie Troup - In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Jennifer Ellington - In Honor of Laura "Faye" Kniceley
• Carol & James Johnson - In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Michelle Tanner- In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Debra & Spencer Crowder- In Memory of Bob Hoover
• Kathryn & Raymond Bokesch - In Memory of Sandy Hamer & Heidi Semivan
• Carolyn Saylor - In Honor of Shelia Paynter
• Kim & Chris Brown - In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Brenda Crafton - In Honor of Shelia Paynter
• Cynthia Oakley- In Honor of Shelia Paynter
• Sandra Pearce - In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Lindsey Satterwhite, Paynter & Paschal -In Honor of Sherry Orman
• South Hill Volunteer Fire Dept. Ladies Aux. - In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients Eileen & John Bigley - In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Marjorie Lawson- In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• JoAnn Wells- In Honor of Shelia Paynter
• Michelle Crowder-In Honor of Melinda Matthews Walker
• Kristy Hooper- In Honor of Shelia Paynter
• Joyce Perkinson - In Honor of Shelia Paynter
• Diane Nichols - In Honor of Shelia Paynter
• Nichole & David Powell- In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients
• Cheryl Abernathy- In Honor and In Memory of All Cancer Patients

Action Needed for Social Security Beneficiaries with Dependents and Who Do Not File Tax Returns to Receive $500 Per Child Payment

 “Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who don’t file tax returns will start receiving their automatic Economic Impact Payments directly from the Treasury Department soon.  People receiving benefits who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes, and have qualifying children under age 17, however, should not wait for their automatic $1,200 individual payment.  They should immediately go to the IRS’s webpage at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here and visit the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here section to provide their information.  Social Security retirement, survivors, and disability insurance beneficiaries with dependent children and who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes need to act by Wednesday, April 22, in order to receive additional payments for their eligible children quickly.  SSI recipients need to take this action by later this month; a specific date will be available soon.

By taking this proactive step to enter information on the IRS website about them and their qualifying children, they will also receive the $500 per dependent child payment in addition to their $1,200 individual payment.  If beneficiaries in this group do not provide their information to the IRS soon, their payment at this time will be $1,200.  People would then be required to file a tax year 2020 tax return to obtain the additional $500 per eligible child.

I urge Social Security and SSI recipients with qualifying children who do not normally file taxes to take action now.  Immediately go to IRS.gov so that you will receive the full amount of the Economic Impact Payments you and your family are eligible for.

People with Direct Express debit cards who enter information at the IRS’s website should complete all of the mandatory questions, but they may leave the bank account information section blank as Treasury already has their Direct Express information on file.

Additionally, any new beneficiaries since January 1, 2020, of either Social Security or SSI benefits, who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019, will also need to go to the IRS’s Non-Filers website to enter their information as they will not receive automatic payments from Treasury.”

Difficulty: Easy. Shopping Needed for Average Household: None. Pre-planning needed: Thaw Chicken.

Prep Time: 3 Minutes, Cook Time: 18 Minutes

Yeild: 4 Servings

1.      Melt Butter or heat Olive Oil in large skillet over medium heat.
 

2.       Dredge Chicken in flour and cook in melted butter or heated oil with minced garlic until chicken is done (4-5 minutes on each side), remove from skillet and keep warm.
 

3.       Add apple and lemon juices to skillet with the black pepper.
 

4.       Boil, uncovered, for 4 minutes or until reduced to one-half cup.
 

5.       Pour Sauce over chicken and serve immediately.
 

Suggested sides: Oven Roasted Broccoli and Brown Rice

To submit your own recipe, send it to news@emporianews.com. Recipes may be for any meal or any course. While you may include your own reccomendations for side dishes and wine, please remember to include a brief introduction to the recipe (which I have left off of this first one). This paragraph or two can eplain to readers where you first had the dish, or if it is a family tradition and a favorite of a certain family member. You may also relate any happy memories related to your recipe-is it your annual birthday meal? Reader submitted recipes will be credited to the reader, and you may include a photograph if you like. If your recipe is from a cookbook, please send the publication information for attribution.
 

New resources available for K-12 schools and teachers

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced a dramatic expansion of Virtual Virginia, the Virginia Department of Education’s existing online learning system, to allow every teacher in the Commonwealth to host virtual classes while schools are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. These resources include a platform that enables all Virginia public school teachers to share lessons and activities with their students through June 30.

“While there is no perfect substitute for in-person classroom instruction, this is an unprecedented public health crisis and we must do everything we can to ensure all children have equitable learning opportunities,”  said Governor Northam . “I want to thank our educators, school administrators, and superintendents for their extraordinary efforts to keep students connected and learning. The expansion of Virtual Virginia will help ensure that the closure of schools and interruption of formal instruction this spring does not lead to a widening of achievement gaps.”

Virtual Virginia will expand its offerings to include elementary and middle school content as an option for students to learn content missed this spring. Courses will begin in May and the new course content will be available to any school division that enrolls students and teachers in the program, at no cost to the division.

Virtual Virginia content can be loaded onto devices for use by students in homes without sufficient internet access to support online learning. The expansion does not affect the more than 6,000 students already enrolled in one or more of Virtual Virginia’s 81 high school-level courses.

“The expansion of Virtual Virginia will provide additional options for school divisions to present the instruction and content that they are unable to provide this spring in traditional classroom settings,”  said Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane . “Access to the Virtual Virginia platform will be especially helpful for teachers and students in school divisions without robust distance learning systems.”

The expansion of Virtual Virginia is the third major action the Commonwealth has taken within the last week to mitigate the impact of school closures on students.

Today, Monday, April 13, marks the launch of “VA TV Classroom” by four Virginia public media stations. Blue Ridge PBS, VPM, WETA, and WHRO Public Media worked closely with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to create the programming to provide teacher-led, on-air instruction aligned with the Commonwealth’s academic standards for students who are unable to access other distance learning options.

In an effort to support Virginia educators, VDOE established the Continuity for Learning (C4L) Task Force consisting of more than 120 teachers, leaders, and collaborating educational partners across Virginia. Working with the C4L Task Force, VDOE launched Virginia Learns Anywhere, a hub of resources and recommendations to reinforce much-needed structure while also empowering individual teachers to support students in learning remotely. The C4L Task Force encourages divisions to develop and implement continuous learning plans in partnership with local county health departments, families, staff, and local boards of education.

Virginia Learns Anywhere includes a guidance document for teachers and schools on providing equitable learning opportunities for students and preventing the widening of achievement gaps and meet the social and emotional needs of students while schools are closed. Sample instructional modules cover essential knowledge and skills for all content areas and grade levels and provide recommendations on integrating the skills and attributes known as the “5 C’s” (critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, collaboration and citizenship) into distance learning.

A comprehensive list of resources, guidance, and support documents for K-12 public schools in Virginia during the COVID-19 school closures is available here. Find answers to frequently asked questions here.

Modeling suggests social distancing efforts have slowed the spread of the virus in the Commonwealth

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam, in partnership with researchers from the University of Virginia’s Biocomplexity Institute and the nonprofit RAND Corporation, released new infectious disease modeling on the impact of COVID-19 mitigations in Virginia.

Current models presented during a briefing held yesterday show that social distancing efforts beginning in mid-March have paused the growth of the COVID-19 epidemic in the Commonwealth. While data and testing remain limited, current trends suggest that Virginia’s statewide hospital bed capacity will be sufficient in the immediate future.

“We are proud to be working with some of the top minds in the country on these projections,” said Governor Northam. “While the data is limited, we can draw a few key conclusions: First, social distancing is important, and it’s working in Virginia. Second, while we continue to work closely with our hospital systems and other health care partners to prepare for a potential surge in acute cases, we are optimistic about our statewide hospital bed capacity. Finally, it’s clear we need to be responsible about how we ease restrictions, so we can keep Virginians safe and protect public health.” 

“From the beginning, Governor Northam has made it clear that everything we do must be grounded in science, public health expertise, and data,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Daniel Carey, M.D. “These models change every day, but we can use various models to help inform a range of outcomes we may be facing so we can make sure that Virginia is ready for all possible scenarios. Like every other state and many other countries, we are preparing for how we can move forward in a way that does not trigger another medical surge.”

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.

To understand the impact of COVID-19 mitigations in Virginia, the UVA Biocomplexity Institute developed a model of the pandemic that incorporates disease dynamics such as transmissibility and incubation period as well as population density and social behavior. The Institute modeled five potential scenarios, exploring slowing growth vs. pausing growth with social distancing in place until April 30 and June 10 compared to no mitigation.  

“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. “Even without perfect projections, we can confidently draw conclusions. We know that social distancing is working and lifting restrictions too early can lead to a second surge. We will continue to improve our models as more data become available. We plan to incorporate outcomes specific by age, integrate the role of seasonality, and analyze mitigation techniques such as a Test-Trace-Isolate approach.”

The UVA Biocomplexity Institute has been on the forefront of epidemic modeling and mitigation since 2002, supporting the U.S. federal government and other countries through several epidemics, including planning for H5N1, the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, the MERS outbreak of 2012, and the Ebola outbreaks of 2014 and 2019. Institute researchers have worked in partnership with U.S. government agencies since early 2020 to inform evidence-based decision making for the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Several groups have produced models to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic might progress and to explore potential policy options,” said Carter Price, a senior mathematician at the RAND Corporation. “Each of these models has strengths and weakness, and they are likely to evolve as more and better data become available. We are helping the leadership of the Commonwealth of Virginia assess the different models so that policy can be made with the best available information.”

Additional information, including slides from yesterday’s briefing are available here. The full video of the briefing is posted here.

Last week, state police was contacted about a donor wishing to buy meals for all the Troopers in Area 35/Emporia.  It was asked if it would be okay if we delivered those donated meals to members of the community less fortunate than us.  The donor was so moved by the gesture that she decided to purchase 100 more meals in addition to the 21 for us to deliver.  That challenge was gladly accepted by the men and women working this area. 

Trooper T.S. Session quickly began putting her Crime Prevention contacts to work and developed a list of people in need within the community.  The list tried to focus on children and elderly within the Emporia/Greensville County area. 

Meanwhile, Bojangles in Emporia began putting a plan in place to prepare the food to be delivered. 

Friday morning (April 10), Area 35 and Safety Division Troopers converged on Bojangles and split into small groups - armed with the proper personal protection equipment (PPE) & social distancing - to start the delivery process.  In addition to the meals, goodie bags were put together for the kids that included crayons, coloring books, pencils and VSP Junior Trooper stickers.  Also, each food order was given a card with the quote, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind” to remind everyone to take care of one another.

In the end, everyone was overjoyed and a few tears were shed (from the Troopers and the people!)  And most importantly, everyone had a meal.

Sergeant S.A. Jackson, Sergeant M.A. Hernandez, Master Trooper C.D. Tucker (Sex Offender Investigative Unit), Trooper T.S. Session and Trooper M.T. Mann (l to r)

Trooper J.M. Balek, Trooper R.A. Vaughan, First Sergeant B.E.J. Jones, Senior Trooper W.K. Sasser (Safety Division Area 65) and Trooper L.W. Milyko (Safety Division Area 65) (l to r)

~State public health laboratory is one of the first in the nation to do this work~

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that the Department of General Services’ (DGS) Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) is one of the first public health labs in the nation to use genetic technology to help public health officials better understand and track the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen prevention and response efforts.

DCLS is using next-generation sequencing to genetically decode some Virginia samples that contain the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. Looking at this genetic fingerprint can help public health officials track how the virus is changing and provide insights into how it is being transmitted.

“Advances in genetic sequencing allow us to track and analyze COVID-19 better than previous outbreaks,” said Governor Northam. “This innovative technology, combined with the work of our public health laboratory and epidemiologists around the Commonwealth, will help us understand the virus, how it spreads, and how it may change. And that will give us more tools to fight it.”

DCLS is working alongside the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and international public health and university partners using specialized lab equipment and computer software to piece together the genetic makeup of the virus found in COVID-19 patients. DCLS is working collaboratively to create a library that stores the information of not only the positive samples it identifies, but also those tested at private facilities, healthcare systems, and universities in Virginia.

Hidden in the genetic makeup of the virus are clues to its origin. Soon after the virus appeared in China, scientists used sequencing to tease out its genetic information and made that information available to the international public health community. As the virus travels from one person to another, it makes copies of itself and sometimes makes small genetic changes called mutations. Scientists can read these mutations like a road map, tracing how cases are related.

Next-generation sequencing generates enormous amounts of data, which is analyzed by specialized bioinformaticians at DCLS. The lab shares the data with public health officials and uploads it to GISAID, an online repository where genomic data it is openly available to epidemiologists and virologists around the globe. Nextstrain, an online resource for scientists to visually track the genomics of the virus, creates diagrams that favor family trees showing the evolutionary relationships between different samples collected throughout the world.

“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.”

In Virginia, the sequences uploaded so far show evidence of multiple introductions of the virus into Virginia communities, suggesting that the emergence of COVID-19 is due to multiple distinct events. This is suggested by looking at the similarity of the virus in Virginia to the virus sequences obtained from Asian and European patients. There is also clear indication of person-to-person spread within suspected COVID-19 outbreaks.

“Epidemiologists at the Virginia Department of Health can use these data during investigations of outbreaks in nursing homes and other settings to determine whether all of the cases originated from the same source or multiple sources,” said Virginia State Epidemiologist Dr. Lilian Peake.

For more information, visit the DGS website at dgs.virginia.gov, including this Next-Generation Sequencing in Virginia document that explains more about how DCLS is using genetic technology to combat COVID-19 in Virginia.

~Executive directive defers collection of annual fees for ABC-issued licenses and permits, allows delivery of mixed beverages~

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today issued an executive directive authorizing the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) to defer annual fees for licenses and permits that would be up for renewal through June. The Governor also directed the Virginia ABC to allow establishments with mixed beverage licenses, such as restaurants and distilleries, to sell mixed beverages through takeout or delivery, effective at midnight Thursday.

Under the Governor’s executive directive, the Virginia ABC will defer the collection of license renewal fees for 90 days from original expiration date for establishments with licenses expiring in March, April, May, and June. Any penalties that would normally be associated with the late payment of such fees will be waived. If a business loses their license, they would have to go back through the application process, which takes at least 30 days. This deferral will allow more than 6,000 licensed retail, wholesale and manufacturing businesses to reopen and conduct business more quickly once the crisis is passed. An estimated $4.5 million in payments will be deferred.

“This unprecedented health crisis has had a tremendous impact on businesses across the Commonwealth, and restaurants have been hit especially hard,” said Governor Northam. “Allowing restaurants and distilleries that remain open to sell mixed beverages with takeout or delivery orders will help them augment their revenue streams, so they can continue serving their customers and employing Virginians. These actions will give establishments with mixed beverage licenses greater flexibility to operate while their dining rooms are closed.”

Many Virginia restaurants have pivoted from dine-in establishments to a combination of takeout, delivery, or makeshift drive-thrus in an effort to maintain operations amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These establishments often rely on alcohol sales to meet profit margins, and this temporary privilege will support restaurants that have lost a substantial stream of revenue from the sale of mixed beverages, and distilleries that have been unable to provide their products to the public and suffered financial losses.

“These deferrals will allow businesses to continue to operate without concern over choosing between keeping an employee or renewing a license,” said Virginia ABC Chief Executive Officer Travis Hill. “Without this relief, some closed businesses would be in the position of paying a fee for a license they can’t exercise or risk losing their license. Virginia ABC is committed to supporting retailers, restaurants and their employees during this pandemic.”

Earlier this week, Virginia ABC announced temporary in-state direct to consumer shipping privileges for local distilleries to provide industry members both small and large with a mechanism to get their product to consumers.

On March 20, Virginia ABC adjusted licensing regulations to permit businesses with only on-premise licenses to exercise off-premise privileges such as allowing the sale of wine or beer in sealed containers for curbside pickup in a designated area (parking lot, etc.), and delivery of those products to customers’ homes without needing a delivery permit. In order for licensed businesses to use this feature, both curbside pickup and delivery must be facilitated by a customer’s electronic order either online, over the phone or through an app.

Additionally, licensees with off-premise privileges, including breweries, farm wineries and wineries were allowed to sell products for curbside pickup in a designated area or deliveries to customers’ homes without obtaining an additional delivery permit. Distillery stores were enabled to deliver products to customers seated in their vehicle on the premises or in the parking lot of the distillery.

The full text of Executive Directive Ten is available here.

Visit abc.virginia.gov/covid-19 to learn more about actions Virginia ABC has taken in response to COVID-19. For additional information and resources to support Virginians impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, visit virginia.gov/coronavirus.

“The sad truth is that we continue to see bad actors in Virginia and across the country taking advantage of the fear and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and trying to scam money from people,” said Attorney General Herring. “I again want to urge all Virginians to remain vigilant during this time and use common sense when you encounter seemingly too good to be true offers either online, over the phone or in person. Before purchasing any coronavirus related products or donating to any charities please do your research and make sure that you are giving your money to a legitimate business or organization.”

• Check the creator or page owner's credentials and try to confirm its authenticity and seriousness.
• Look for indicators of endorsement or legitimacy that the page is actually collecting donations for a particular victim or organization. Some sites offer verification and transparency measures for campaigns. Look for those markers of authenticity, and check out the site's fraud protection measures.
• Be cautious, and if you feel uneasy, contribute to a more established charity in the community.
• Be wary of charities that spring up overnight in connection with a current event or natural disaster. They may make a compelling case for you to make a donation but even if they are legitimate, they may not have the infrastructure or experience to get your donation to the affected area or people.

• Never wire money or send cash or a pre-paid card—These transactions are just like sending someone cash! Once your money is gone, you can’t trace it or get it back.
• Don’t give the caller any of your financial or other personal information—Never give out or confirm financial or other sensitive information, including your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number, unless you know exactly who you're dealing with. Scammers can use your information to commit identity theft. If you get a call about a debt that may be legitimate — but you think the collector may not be — contact the company to which the caller claims you owe money to inquire about the call.
• Don’t trust a name or number—Scammers use official-sounding names, titles, and organizations to make you trust them. To make the call seem legitimate, scammers also use internet technology to disguise their area code or generate a fake name on caller ID. So even though it may look like they’re calling locally or somewhere in the United States, they could be calling from anywhere in the world.
• Join the National Do Not Call Registry and don’t answer numbers you don’t know—This won’t stop scammers from calling but it should make you skeptical of calls you get from out of the blue. Most legitimate sales people generally honor the Do Not Call list. Scammers ignore it. Putting your number on the list helps to “screen” your calls for legitimacy and reduce the number of legitimate telemarketing calls you get.

• The Offer Seems Too Good to be True—If it seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Examples include money left to you from an unknown relative, being awarded a loan or grant for which you did not apply, winning a lottery you did not enter and being selected to receive a share in funds in return for using your bank account.
• Requests for Fees or Payment in Advance—Scammers will want advance payments or fees to clear the funds or complete their offer. It might not be clear what the fees are for, but the scammer will tell you they have to be paid or the money can’t be released. They might suggest they are only trying to help you out and the fees are a small sum compared to what you will be receiving. Never pay fees or taxes in advance.
• Pressure—Scammers will often put pressure on their victims and urge them to pay immediately or lose the opportunity, or may even threaten them with legal consequences or disconnected utilities unless a payment is sent right away. A genuine business or government entity will not pressure you to act immediately.
• Know who you are dealing with—Technology has made it easy for scammers to disguise or spoof their telephone number or create a website that looks very legitimate. Do an online search for the company name and website and look for consumer reviews. If you cannot find a seller’s physical address (not a P.O. Box) and phone number it should be a red flag. It is best to do business with websites you know and trust. If you buy items through an online auction, consider using a payment option that provides protection, like a credit card.
• They Want Private Information—Many scams involve getting hold of your bank account details. Scams involving identity theft also seek personal information. A common scenario is an email supposedly from a bank asking you to click on a link to confirm your bank details and password. Banks generally don’t do this, but if you think the email has really come from your bank, pick up the phone and confirm with them. Never click on links or attachments in emails from people you don’t know or you risk your computer becoming infected by viruses, trojans, or other malware.
• Untraceable Payment Method—Scammers prefer payment methods that are untraceable, such as wiring money through Western Union or other services. Be very suspicious of demands for wire transfers or cash payments. Never wire money to someone you do not know. 
• Grammatical Errors or Poor Production Values—Scammers may be clever, but they are not always careful and English may not be their first language. Their grammatical errors can give them away. If the correspondence you receive is full of errors, low-resolution images, or unsophisticated formatting, be very suspicious.
• Suspicious Email Domains and Web Addresses—Look carefully at email addresses and domain names. Businesses rarely use free email services like Hotmail, AOL, Yahoo, or Gmail. Even if the business seems legitimate, do some research to make sure they have readily available contact information and have not scammed others.
• Suspicious or No Addresses—Scammers do not want their victims to know where they live. If there is no physical address and your contacts won’t give you one, it’s a sure bet you’re being scammed. If there is a physical address, check it out using the Internet or Google Earth and see if it’s a real address.
• Request for Access to Your Computer—A common scam is a phone call from someone claiming to be a technician who has detected problems with your computer and would like to fix them for you free. Never give anyone remote access to your computer

• By phone: 1 (800) 552-9963
• By email: consumer@oag.state.va.us
• Online complaint form
• Online contact form

Editor’s Note: In an effort to inform our communities about changes at VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital, we are releasing this additional information about the stand up of the old hospital building on Buena Vista Circle and precautions taken routinely by CMH in dealing with infectious diseases.

“As VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital continues to prep the old CMH on Buena Vista to possibly accept patients, we felt it was important to let the community know about precautions we at the hospital take daily to help control the spread of this virus and other infectious diseases and to protect our patients, staff and the community as a whole,” said Scott Burnette, CEO of CMH. 

He explained, “At CMH we have taken extensive precautions through the years to protect everyone from the spread of infectious diseases. That was true in 1954and it is true today, although medical research has provided us with many more tools over the years. There are important steps each and every employee takes to reduce the possibility of spreading a disease to patients, other staff members and the community.”

“We practice a strict regimen in what is called donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE). Every employee who works in direct patient care has been specifically trained in this thorough procedure that protects everyone,” he said. 

This protective equipment includes disposable gowns, gloves, masks and eye protection. Further, as staff members put on (don) or take off (doff) the PPE, an observer is to be present to make sure the procedure is followed correctly.

“When infectious diseases are present and those diseases have an airborne component like COVID-19, patients are placed in what is called a negative pressure room or can be managed by leaving the patient room door closed to the hallway at all times,” he added. 

Negative pressure rooms bring in air from the hallway outside the room at all times and then the air in the room is exhausted through the roof at CMH where it dissipates and is no longer an issue. 

Burnette explained that if a COVID positive patient is in a negative pressure room, the airborne virus cannot escape the room except being expelled harmlessly through the roof.

Employees remove their PPE in a very specific manner at the door of the negative pressure room before exiting the room and wash their hands during each step of removing their equipment. This keeps those staff members and others safe from contact with the airborne virus.

Burnette explained that this procedure is utilized at hospitals across the country and is the accepted practice of the World Health Organization and the Centers For Disease Control with the federal government.

But he added that everyone has a responsibility to help slow or stop the spread of infectious diseases.

“The most important thing everyone can do is practice social distancing.  Six feet is the magic number.  Staying six feet away from people, being careful what you touch, avoid touching your face and washing your hands often with soap and water or sanitizer is the best way to slow or stop the progression of this virus,” Burnette said. 

Burnette said that the decision to prepare the old hospital to possibly receive patients was appropriate and necessary.

"Preparing the old hospital for COVID-19 patients is a precautionary step to make sure we have the capacity to handle any and all patients who present at CMH.  If precautions are not put into motion right now there could be a scenario where people in our community, our friends or family, could be in need of health care and CMH would not have room for them.  Having the CMH facility on Buena Vista Circle available as an option is a way to prevent this horrible scenario from taking place.  We are in the business of providing the best possible care for our patients and having this facility available to us will give us the best chance to do just that."  

If anyone has questions about COVID-19 they should visit the CDC website at: cdc.gov.

~ On “Census Day” Herring highlights the importance of the census for things like federal funding for healthcare and transportation, and state and federal legislative districts ~

RICHMOND (April 1, 2020) – On “Census Day” Attorney General Mark R. Herring is encouraging all Virginians to complete their 2020 decennial census questionnaires to make sure that there is an accurate count of Virginia’s population. Hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funds are directly tied to demographic information obtained through the census, including the Highway Trust Fund and other Department of Transportation grants, Child Care Development Grants, and Medicaid. Consequently, inaccurate counts can potentially deprive Virginia of much-needed funds designed to protect low-income and vulnerable communities.

“On this Census Day, most, if not all, households in Virginia should have received a census questionnaire – please make sure to fill it out and send it back to the Census Bureau. While I know most of us are focused on the coronavirus, it is so incredibly important that we all still participate in the census,” said Attorney General Herring. “The census isn’t just a project that the government does every ten years to figure out how many people live in the country. It ensures that Virginia has fair representation both at the state and the federal level and it determines funding for critical things like healthcare, transportation and childcare.

“I successfully fought in court to protect the integrity of the census and block the Trump Administration’s citizenship question from being included on this year’s census. Now all Virginians must do their part and fill out their questionnaire to make sure that everyone living in the Commonwealth is properly counted. An undercount could cost Virginia millions of dollars in federal funding.”

While the census counts Virginians at their permanent residence, people without a permanent residence are counted at the place where they are living on April 1st, which is why that day is known as “Census Day.” The 2020 census is already well underway but, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, response rates have been slower and the U.S. Census Bureau has adjusted the original timeline in response to that. To make things as easy as possible, you can respond to the census online, over the phone or through the mail.

Attorney General Herring successfully protected the integrity of the 2020 census after he sued to block the Trump Administration’s addition of a “poison pill” citizenship question, that the Census Bureau said would likely depress response and compromise the accuracy of the census. Attorney General Herring’s lawsuit emphasized the irreparable harm that would result from inaccuracies in the 2020 Census.

Additionally, the coalition filed official comments in August 2018 urging the Census Bureau to reconsider its decision to include an unnecessary citizenship question that would impair the Bureau’s essential function of counting all people in the 2020 census. The comments explained that demanding citizenship information on the census would depress response rates in cities and states with large immigrant populations, directly threatening those states’ fair representation in Congress and the Electoral College, as well as billions of dollars in critical federal funds.

A total of $700 billion is distributed annually to nearly 300 different census-guided federal grant and funding programs. In FY2015, Virginia received over $953 million in Highway Trust Fund grants, over $131 million in Urbanized Area Formula Grants, and nearly $64 million in Child Care Development grants, all based on census data.