Charlottesville Quarantine Report

Episode 34 - Ten Weeks In

Episode Summary

While there has not been a new episode in a week, I have been recording new material and lining up interviews. For many, life seems to be getting back to a new kind of normal, but we're still in the middle of a state of emergency that was declared ten weeks ago. Today's show takes a look at the May 20 press briefing by Governor Ralph Northam, where his comments covered health care in Virginia to how Northern Virginia might come out of Phase One of Forward Virginia. I also talked to David Plunkett, the director of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. Even though branches have been closed, JMRL has been doing their part to support the community through digital services and by preparing for curbside service to begin on Tuesday, May 26.

Episode Notes

Resources:

• Scottsville election results from Virginia State Board of Elections
• Jefferson Madison Regional Library COVID-19 response
• May 21 InsideNova article on requests to open up restaurants in Prince William County

Information for May 22, 2020

• The total number of deaths in Virginia has increased to 1,136, according to numbers released this morning by the state Department of Health. There have been 34,950 total cases with around 4,145 hospitalizations. There have been 223,433 “testing encounters” using a method known as PCR testing, with a 14.7 percent positive testing rate. Health districts in Northern Virginia continue to have higher rates of infection. 
  
  There has been another COVID-19 related death in the Thomas Jefferson Health District, according to numbers posted this morning. The total number of deaths here is now 14. There were seven new cases reported for a total of 401 in the district. 
   
• On Saturday, May 23, the Thomas Jefferson Health District will hold coronavirus testing clinics at two locations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. These are focused on communities of color and the events are being conducted at Mount Zion First Baptist Church and the Jefferson School City Center. There is no appointment necessary and there is a limited amount of tests. For more information, call 434-972-6261.