October 13th — Weekly COVID-19 Update

“The secret to getting ahead is getting started.” — Mark Twain

This week, Governor Northam took several new steps to provide relief to Virginia communities, and I wanted to make sure you had the latest updates:

Today, October 13th, is the last day to register to vote in Virginia for the November 2020 Election.

Governor Northam announced that Virginia is allocating $30 million in funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to improve broadband access in underserved localities. Localities must apply for the funding, and eligible projects are those able to be completed within the time constraints on spending federal dollars, which means more Virginians could get connected to high-speed, broadband internet by the end of the year.

Health

• Currently, 160,805 cases have been reported in Virginia.
• COVIDWISE is an exposure notification app that will alert users if they have been in close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• The Virginia Department of Health reminds us to enjoy Halloween safely. You can protect yourself and family from COVID-19 by avoiding people who live outside of your household, wearing a cloth face covering in public settings, practicing frequent hand washing, and staying six feet apart from one another.

Housing Security

• Governor Northam announced that $12 million in additional funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act will be directed to Virginia’s Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP) due to great demand for financial assistance.
• RMRP provides short-term financial assistance on behalf of households in the form of rent and mortgage payments. To identify the local RMRP administering organization for a household and to conduct a self-assessment for eligibility, visit dhcd.virginia.gov/eligibility or call 211 VIRGINIA by dialing 2–1–1 from your phone.
• Wesley Housing, Arlington County, and other project partners gathered on Tuesday to break ground on The Cadence, a new affordable family development in the Buckingham neighborhood of North Arlington. Once constructed, this development will help provide over 51 family sized units to low-income families, helping to meet an incredible need in our community,” said Libby Garvey, Chair of Arlington County Board.
• http://StayHomeVirginia.com contains tools, information, and resources for renters, homeowners, landlords, and people experiencing homelessness.

Employment & the Economy

• Governor Northam announced that Premium-PPE, a manufacturer of AmeriShield branded masks and personal protective equipment, will invest $5.3 million to expand its operation in the City of Virginia Beach, creating 180 new jobs.
• FINIMPACT: https://www.finimpact.com/covid-19-coronavirus-smbs/.
• Annuity.org: https://www.annuity.org/financial-literacy/covid-19-financial-guide/

Medicaid

• The Legal Services of Northern Virginia received a grant through the Potomac Health Foundation to help individuals in Prince William County (PWC) with issues surrounding Medicaid and the Marketplace, including help with application assistance, analyzing eligibility, or representing individuals in Medicaid appeals. Please contact Susan Nolan at 703–647–4748 or susan@enroll-virginia.com.

Prince William County — General Updates

• The Human Services Alliance of Greater Prince William received an additional $1,000,000 in CARES Act funding from the County. The funds were used to provide financial support for 12 nonprofits across the County, who offer vital support to families in the community.
• The Office of Housing & Community Development has implemented the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) to provide emergency housing assistance payments for eligible households who have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19. To qualify, applicants must be able to support documentable income reduction, through reduced hours, job loss, sickness or being the sole provider for another household member, which was directly related to “loss of income” for the household due to COVID-19, on or after March 1, 2020.

Prince William County — Health

• Currently, 13,281 cases have been reported in Prince William County.
• Prince William County Health Officials provide guidance to celebrate a safe Halloween.

Prince William County — Education

• Prince William County Public Schools is interested in gathering feedback from parents and community members about options for the 2021–22 school calendar.
• The on-time graduation rate in PWCS continues to increase, according to a report released by the Virginia Department of Education. The 93 percent on-time graduation rate for PWCS surpasses the overall state rate of 92.3 percent.
• It is the goal of the Division to transition to a 50 percent capacity In-Person and Distance Learning Model for the second quarter, with the option for students to remain virtual, while maintaining flexibility throughout to adapt to public health guidance as needed. Please click here to view sample schedules.
• Prince William County will continue to provide to-go meals throughout the first quarter at 56 feeding sites. These meals are free to all children 18 years old and under. Meals may be picked up by walking up to the sites, or by driving up, which is preferred. You can check for service sites here.

Prince William County — Employment & the Economy

• To help those who have lost their jobs in the pandemic, Prince William County has partnered with Virginia Career Works to launch ELEVATE. ELEVATE provides no-cost employment assistance to members of the community, including training programs, job placement services, and more.

Prince William County — Election & the Census

• PWC has four sample ballots, and the one you will be given depends on where you reside. Three are based on your Congressional District for the House of Representatives. The fourth is specific to the Town of Dumfries.
• If you have not completed the 2020 census, you have until October 31 to do so — either online at my2020census.gov or by phone at (844) 330–2020.

Prince William County — COVID-19 Testing

• Free COVID-19 Testing available for residents who live and work in Prince William County, the City of Manassas, and the City of Manassas Park. Participants must provide their full name, telephone number, and a home or work address in Prince William County, the City of Manassas, and the City of Manassas Park to obtain COVID testing and receive the results. To ensure you receive a test please arrive at the site as close as possible to the start time and ensure you are in line by the time posted below.
• Wednesday, October 14, 2020 | Start Time 1:30 PM — Dumfries-Triangle Rescue Squad Facility, 3800 Graham Park Rd. Triangle, VA 22172
• [Please be in line by 3:30 pm]
• Wednesday, October 14, 2020 | Start Time 5:30 PM — Metz Middle School, 9950 Wellington Rd., Manassas, VA 20110
• [Please be in line by 7 pm]
• Thursday, October 15, 2020 | Start Time 8:30 AM — Cloverdale Park, 15150 Cloverdale Rd. Dale City, VA 22193
• [Please be in line by 10:30 am]
• Thursday, October 15, 2020 | Start Time 1:30 PM — Woodbridge Senior Center, 13850 Church Hill Dr., Woodbridge, VA 22191
• [Please be in line by 3:30 pm]
• Friday, October 16, 2020 | Start Time 1:30 PM — Splashdown Water Park, 7500 Ben Lomond Park Rd., Manassas, VA 20109
• [Please be in line by 3:30 pm]
• Friday, October 16, 2020 | Start Time 5:30 PM — Woodbridge Senior Center, 13850 Church Hill Dr., Woodbridge, VA 22191
• [Please be in line by 7 pm]
• Saturday, October 17, 2020 | Start Time 8:30 AM — Brentsville District High School, 12109 Aden Rd. Nokesville, VA 20181
• [Please be in line by 11:30 am]

COVID-19 Resources:

• Virginia Department of Health website
• Virginia Department of Social Services website
• “Forward Virginia” Guidelines page
• Prince William County COVID-19 page
• Stafford County COVID-19 page

If you need constituent services, please contact our office at DelJCarrollFoy@house.virginia.gov.

Please stay safe and healthy.

Thank you,

Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy