COVID-19 Emergency

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The COVID-19 Emergency is an ongoing incident that is causing a series of changes to business as usual in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the rest of the United States. Authorities are urging people to limit contact with other humans until further notice to help prevent deaths of those in high-risk demographics. Public schools are closed until at least March 27 as have all public meetings in the community.

Philanthropic and volunteer efforts have begun to come together to prepare for what could be a sustained period of disruption. Others are finding ways to help others cope with financial impacts related to the closing of many businesses to contain the spread. This includes arranging volunteers to help look after children now that schools will be closed.

Albemarle County and Charlottesville declared local emergencies on March 12, 2020 in order to help coordinate public safety efforts to contain the spread of the disease. [1] [2]

There are no known cases of COVID-19 in Charlottesville as of March 15, 2020. [3] Data is released by the Virginia Department of Health once a day, making the impact of the health crisis reliant not fully know.

Virginia is under a state of emergency. [3] All public schools have been ordered to stay closed for two weeks beginning on March 16 by order of Governor Ralph Northam. [4]

The Virginia Department of Health has set up a hotline for the Thomas Jefferson Health District at 434-972-6261.


Ambox notice.png This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

Latest

  • Charlottesville City Schools are looking for volunteers to sign up to help distribute food beginning March 17. [5] Weekday distribution of meals will take place between 10 am and noon at ten locations throughout the city. [6]
  • There are 41 cases in Virginia and one confirmed death as of March 14, 2020 [7]


Local responses

Albemarle County

Albemarle County is implementing a multi-phased plan to respond to the incident. An Incident Management team is coordinating a response. [8]

The Town of Scottsville is following Albemarle's plan. [9] They have declared their own local emergency.

Charlottesville

Charlottesville has closed all indoor recreation facilities and park rentals, and has also canceled all public meetings until further notice. The City Council meeting scheduled for March 16 will continue and the city will pilot a new way of allowing public input. [10]

The Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority has announced a moratorium on all evictions effective in [11]

Surrounding counties

Augusta Health in Fishersville has indicated they are prepared for an outbreak in the Shenandoah Valley. [12]

Impact on school children

The announcement of the closure of schools on March 13 immediately prompted many to begin to think about what to do for children for whom school lunches may be the only regular mealtimes. That's potentially thousands of young people in Albemarle and Charlottesville. The city school system is planning on a meals program. The PB&J Fund is also seeking volunteers and donations and will distribute food on March 16. [13] People have stepped up to volunteer for Monday. [14]

Charlottesville City Schools are looking for volunteers to sign up to help distribute food beginning March 17. [15]

The federal Centers for Disease Control have a website on recommended school policies

Effects on local business

Authorities have called for social distancing which immediately began to have an effect on people moving around the community but also prompted a debate over whether enough people are heeding the call.

  • Many businesses remained open on March 13 and March 14, but are encouraging customers to maintain a distance between themselves. While many office workers have been told to work from home, retail employees do not have that luxury. [17]
  • The cancellation of the Virginia Festival of the Book has had a ripple effect on businesses such as New Dominion Bookshop, which purchased additional stock for customers who will not be visiting Charlottesville this spring. [17]
  • State Farm is evaluating the possibility of its staffers working from home. CFA Institute is doing the same thing. WillowTree is among the companies that have told their employees to work from home.
  • Ragged Mountain Running Shop decided to close effective on March 13 but the owners said they would continue online sales and delivery [18]

Restaurants

Churches

Many places of worship did not hold services on March 15 to help prevent the spread of the norel coronavirus. Those that meet in public schools already knew they could not hold services because of rules that prohibited meetings of up to 100 people. That included the Charlottesville Community Church. [21] Others such as First Presbyterian Church have suspended all activities through March 27. [22]

State impacts

Attorney General Mark Herring asked the State Corporation Commission in an emergency petition to require utility companies to halt disconnects for non-payment. [23] Dominion announced the same day they would suspend disconnections. [24]

The Virginia Employment Commission has prepared information for people who have been laid off or will be laid off in the coming weeks. A person has to actually be laid off or had hours reduced before they are eligible to apply for benefits. The maximum weekly benefit amount in Virginia is $378. [25]

Timeline

Cancellations


Local Resources

Health resources

Medical capacity

One of the reasons why the social distancing protocol has been put into place is to limit the impact on the medical system which could be overwhelmed if hospitalizations are required.

The University of Virginia Health System has 612 beds. [41]

Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital has 176 beds. [42]


Global resources

References

  1. Web. Albemarle, Charlottesville declare local emergencies; schools cancel class March 16, Katherine Knott, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 12, 2020, retrieved March 12, 2020.
  2. Web. Albemarle County, Charlottesville issue Declarations of Local Emergency, News staff, News Article, CBS19, March 12, 2020, retrieved March 13, 2020.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Web. Special: Ongoing COVID-19 coverage, Billy Jean Louis, Charlotte Renee Woods, and Elliott Robinson, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 2020, retrieved March 12, 2020.
  4. Web. Northam orders all Virginia public schools closed for minimum of two weeks, News and Advance Reports, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 13, 2020, retrieved March 13, 2020.
  5. Web. CCS Food Distribution, March 14, 2020, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Web. Neighborhood Meal Delivery During Closure, Website, Charlottesville City Schools, March 14, 2020, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  7. Web. Virginia reports first coronavirus death, 41 positive cases, Sara Gregory, News Article, Virginian-Pilot, March 14, 2020, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  8. Web. Albemarle County plans for potential coronavirus outbreak, Michael Caldwell, News Article, CBS19, March 11, 2020, retrieved March 12, 2020.
  9. Web. Scottsville mayor, town administrator address COVID-19 preparations, Michael Caldwell, CBS19 News, March 12, 2020, retrieved March 13, 2020.
  10. Web. The Latest Coronavirus Information for the City of Charlottesville, Press Release, City of Charlottesville, March 13, 2020, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  11. Web. CRHA temporarily suspends eviction and voucher terminations, WINA Newsradion 1070, retrieved March 13, 2020.
  12. Web. Augusta Health prepares for possible coronavirus outbreak, Rebecca J. Barnabi, News Article, The News-Virginian, March 13, 2020, retrieved March 15, 2020.
  13. Web. Area schools brace for two-week closure, Katherine Knott, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 14, 2020, retrieved March 14, 2020. Print. March 14, 2020 page A1.
  14. Web. Volunteer Sign-up for Lunch Distribution, Sign up sheet, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  15. Web. CCS Food Distribution, March 14, 2020, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  16. Web. Charlottesville coffee shop delivers cups to cars in wake of coronavirus outbreak, Carly Kempler, News article, WVIR NBC29, March 13, 2020, retrieved March 13, 2020.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Web. Virus' impact on local business: While retail could take a hit, others turn to telecommuting, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 14, 2020, retrieved March 15, 2020. Print. March 15, 2020 page A1.
  18. Web. An Important Message from Our Ragged Mountain Family about COVID-19, Ragged Mountain Running Shop, March 12, 2020, retrieved March 15, 2020.
  19. Web. Charlottesville Restaurants: Here’s How You Can Help Save Them, Blog post, Charlottesville 29, March 14, 2020, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  20. Web. Charlottesville Restaurant Community Fund, Kaitlin Elwood, Go Fund Me page, March 14, 2020, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  21. Web. Coronavirus page, Charlottesville Community Church, retrieved March 15, 2020.
  22. Web. ACTIVITIES AT FIRST PRES SUSPENDED THROUGH MARCH 27 DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS, First Presbyterian Church, retrieved March 15, 2020.
  23. Web. ATTORNEY GENERAL HERRING SEEKS TO HALT UTILITY DISCONNECTIONS DURING STATE OF EMERGENCY, Charlotte Gomer, Press Release, Office of the Virginia Attorney General, March 13, 2020, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  24. Web. Coronavirus Update, Press Release, Dominion Energy, March 13, 2020, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  25. Web. Attention Workers Whose Job Has Been Affected by the Coronavirus, Virginia Employment Commission, retrieved March 15, 2020.
  26. Web. Charlottesville continues preparations for Coronavirus, Press release, City of Charlottesville, March 11, 2020, retrieved March 12, 2020.
  27. Web. City officials continue coronavirus preparations, News staff, News Article, CBS19 News, March 11, 2020, retrieved March 12, 2020.
  28. Web. Sentara limits visitors; Charlottesville City to review special event applications, Staff reports, News article, Daily Progress, March 11, 2020, retrieved March 12, 2020.
  29. Web. Charlottesville and Albemarle Co. issue declarations of local emergency, CJ Paschall, Annie Schroeder, and John Early, News Article, March 12, 2020, retrieved March 12, 2020.
  30. Web. The Center will close to the public at 4:30 PM on Friday, March 13, Center, March 13, 2020, retrieved March 13, 2020.
  31. Web. Community foundation launches emergency relief fund, Staff reports, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 13, 2020, retrieved March 13, 2020.
  32. Web. People and students in Charlottesville react to social distancing recommendations, Daniel Grimes and C.J. Paschall, News Article, WVIR NBC29, March 14, 2020, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  33. Web. Digital Town Hall, Facebook Event, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  34. Web. COVID-19 situation cancels 2020 Charlottesville 10-Miler, WINA Newsradio 1070, March 12, 2020, retrieved March 12, 2020.
  35. Web. PVCC to move online March 18 as coronavirus precaution, Staff reports, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 12, 2020, retrieved March 12, 2020.
  36. Web. Quadruplicity conference postponed amid virus concerns, Staff Reports, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 12, 2020, retrieved March 12, 2020.
  37. Web. Charlottesville Parks & Recreation Cancellations and Suspensions due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), News Release, City of Charlottesville, March 13, 2020, retrieved March 13, 2020.
  38. Web. Monticello to Temporarily Close, March 16-30, Monticello, March 13, 2020, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  39. Web. Monticello, Montpelier to close; Tom Tom postponed, Staff reports, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 13, 2020, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  40. Web. Frequently Asked Questions on Coronavirus, FAQ, WorldStrides, March 13, 2020, retrieved March 15, 2020.
  41. Web. Facts & Statistics, FAQ, University of Virginia Health System, retrieved March 15, 2020.
  42. Web. About Us, Sentara, retrieved March 15, 2020.
  43. Web. In it together: Life under quarantine in our Italian sister city, retrieved March 15, 2020.

External Links