Across Virginia

One of the General Assembly’s Republican leaders wasted no time criticizing the COVID-related guidance issued to schools across Virginia. It recommends that all students and staff in elementary schools wear masks, regardless of vaccination status. House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert says that guidance is inconsistent with science, it passes the buck to local school systems, and it will lead to widespread confusion. Gilbert says there is “nothing to indicate that requiring an eight-year-old to wear a mask .. will substantially reduce the transmission of COVID.”

GILBERT STATEMENT: “Governor Northam failed Virginians throughout the pandemic, and this new guidance is just another example. It is inconsistent with science, passes the buck to local school divisions, will spark mass confusion, and will make it more difficult as our students return to the classroom this fall. It’s an especially cruel requirement for young children, and will only make it more difficult for our teachers to inspire a love of learning in students.

“To be clear, I urge Virginians to get vaccinated if at all possible, so we can continue to move past this disease, keep our economy open, and return to normal. But there’s nothing to indicate that requiring an eight-year-old to wear a mask while taking a math test will substantially reduce the transmission of COVID, or any new variant that is emerging.

“At the upcoming General Assembly special session, Republicans will once again push our Democratic colleagues to take responsibility and take legislative action against any kind of mask mandate in our schools.”

A statewide health alert is in effect for the rest of Wednesday, the result of particle pollution caused by smoke from wildfires in the western U.S. and central Canada. The Virginia Department of Health says anyone with respiratory or heart disease should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion today, as should the elderly and children.

NEWS RELEASE: As of 10:00 am, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is issuing a Health Alert through the remainder of the day based on elevated particle pollution concentrations across the Commonwealth. This is due to smoke from wildfires in the western United States and central Canada. Estimated Air Quality Indices (AQI) in many areas in Virginia based upon current particle pollution concentrations are in the Code Orange/Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range. Active children and adults, and people with cardio and respiratory diseases, such as asthma, should limit strenuous outdoor activities and continue to monitor air quality conditions throughout the day at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/air/monitoring-assessments/air-quality-forecast.

Due to the federal guidelines based on peer-reviewed health studies that determine how air pollutants are averaged and calculated, receiving a health alert does not necessarily mean that the day’s cumulative pollution is considered unhealthy or that a violation of the federal standards has occurred.
Health Information
  • Code Green: Poses little or no health risk.
  • Code Yellow: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing strenuous outdoor activities.
  • Code Orange: Active children and adults, and people with heart or lung disease (including asthma) should limit or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities.
  • Code Red: Active children and adults should limit or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities. People unusually sensitive to air pollution, especially those with heart or lung disease (including asthma), should avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
  • Code Purple: Active children and adults should avoid prolonged strenuous outdoor activities. People unusually sensitive to air pollution, especially those with heart or lung disease (including asthma), and older adults should avoid all outdoor strenuous activities.
High air pollution levels can impair breathing, cause lung damage, coughing and eye irritation and put extra strain on the heart. Air pollution also can aggravate asthma, bronchitis or emphysema.
More detailed information is available on the DEQ website. If you know someone else who would like to receive these forecasts, please have them sign up to receive the daily forecasts.

State health and education officials “strongly recommend” masks for all elementary school students, teachers and staff — regardless of vaccination status — when the next school year begins. But it is not a mandate, and schools have the option to implement their own policies. As for middle and high schools, state officials recommend a requirement that anyone not vaccinated should wear masks indoors.

NEWS RELEASE: RICHMOND — The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Education today released new guidance for PreK-12 schools for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. The Interim Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in Virginia PreK-12 Schools reinforces the importance of in-person learning and supports school divisions in making decisions on masking and other prevention measures, as informed by local data and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Virginia has followed the science throughout this pandemic, and that’s what we continue to do,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “This guidance takes into consideration recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and will provide necessary flexibility for school divisions while ensuring a safe, healthy, and world-class learning environment for Virginia’s students. Again, I strongly urge every eligible Virginian to get vaccinated. Getting your shot will protect you, your family, and your community—and it is the only way we can beat this pandemic once and for all.”

The State Health Commissioner’s Public Health Order is in effect until July 25, 2021 and will not be extended, giving school divisions the ability to implement local mask policies based on community level conditions and public health recommendations. As informed by recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Virginia guidance strongly recommends divisions adopt the following for the 2021-2022 school year:

  • Elementary schools should implement a requirement that students, teachers, and staff wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, until vaccination is available for children under 12 years old and there has been sufficient time to allow for children younger than 12 years old to be fully vaccinated.
  • At a minimum, middle and high schools should implement a requirement that students, teachers and staff who are not fully vaccinated wear masks indoors. While school divisions regularly confirm school-required immunization records of their students, they should consult with their counsel in determining if and how to confirm student and staff COVID-19 vaccinations.
  • All schools may want to consider universal masking for specific reasons as outlined in certain circumstances by the CDC.
  • All schools should be prepared to adjust local mask policies as local public health conditions evolve throughout the year.

The CDC federal order requiring masks be worn on public transportation remains in effect, and applies to buses operated by Virginia public schools.

“The science is clear that vaccinations and masks help keep our communities safe from COVID-19,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Daniel Carey, MD, MHCM. “Due to the dedication, expertise, and close partnership of the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Education, the Commonwealth’s children and the individuals that help them learn will be protected by proven strategies, without a one-size-fits-all approach.”

“Schools occupy a special place in the life of our communities, and we need to do everything we can to keep everyone in them safe. This guidance is aimed at protecting students, educators, and staff while also providing localities with flexibility,” said State Health Commissioner M. Norman Oliver, M.D., M.A. “We continue to urge eligible Virginians to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and their communities.”

All schools in Virginia are required to make in-person instruction available to all students in the 2021-2022 school year, pursuant to Senate Bill 1303 which was passed during Virginia’s 2021 legislative session. According to the updated guidance, physical distancing of at least 3 feet should be maximized to the greatest extent possible but schools should not reduce in-person learning to keep a minimum distance requirement.

“We know that students learn best in school buildings, and this guidance ensures that divisions have the flexibility and support they need to provide access to in-person learning 5 days a week,” said Secretary of Education Atif Qarni. “I’m grateful to all of the school administrators, educators, and staff who have gone above and beyond to provide high quality instruction and support to students during this challenging time.”

Prevention strategies are most effective when layered together, and will continue to be necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools. The guidance recommends that divisions work with local health departments to implement mitigation strategies based on information about the levels of community transmission, local vaccine coverage, the occurrence of cases and outbreaks in schools, and the use of screening testing data to detect cases in schools.

Vaccination remains the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccinating teachers, staff, and eligible students is a critical layer of prevention and protection for all.

“As schools prepare to welcome students back for the 2021-2022 school year, our priority is safely providing in-person instruction so that each and every child can learn and thrive in the classroom,” said Dr. James Lane, Superintendent of Public Instruction. “With this latest guidance and ample federal pandemic relief funds available to school divisions, our local school leaders are equipped to implement appropriate mitigation strategies and ensure student and staff safety within the schools in their communities.”

In 2020, Governor Northam directed $492 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to public schools and PreK-12 state-level education initiatives. This year, Virginia received approximately $939 million in ESSER II funds under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act of 2021. Ninety percent of the funding was distributed to school divisions in January, with the other 10 percent set aside for targeted state-level initiatives to address the impact of the pandemic on students and schools. Additionally, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III funds directly allocate $1.9 billion to school divisions, with an additional state set aside of $211 million.

This spring, Governor Northam announced $62.7 million in Virginia LEARNS Education Recovery grants to help school divisions expand and implement targeted initiatives to support Virginia students as they continue to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

Virginia’s DMV is returning closer to normal in another way today as driver skills testing goes back on the road at more locations. Until last year, if you took the driver skills test as an adult, you probably were on the road as the examiner sat in the vehicle next to you. COVID changed that to  the examiner standing outside the vehicle in a closed parking lot and issuing instructions to you through the open window. But as of today, more DMV centers are returning to the road, now including Bedford, Rocky Mount, Lexington and Pulaski. For now, however, Roanoke and Lynchburg testing remains in parking lots. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A newspaper’s analysis of state data shows that across Virginia, Black drivers are the only racial or ethnic group stopped by police at a higher rate than their share of the population.

Black drivers in Hampton Roads and across Virginia were also more likely to be stopped and searched by police than any other racial or ethnic group, according to The Virginian-Pilot’s analysis of data recently released as part of a law enacted by the General Assembly in 2020.

The Virginia Community Policing Act requires police to collect and report information on every traffic stop they conduct.

While Black people make up about 20% of the state’s population, Black drivers accounted for about 31% of traffic stops statewide, according to the data. White drivers made up 63% of stops statewide; white people are 69% of the population.

Several Hampton Roads police agencies told the newspaper they regularly review data, including traffic stops, as a way to monitor and improve their practices.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — Democrat Terry McAuliffe significantly outraised Republican Glenn Youngkin in the most recent campaign-finance reports, with McAuliffe also holding a significant lead in cash on hand.

Reports filed Thursday and Friday with the Department of Elections show that McAuliffe raised $7.4 million in cash in the most recent reporting period. Youngkin raised $3.5 million.

McAuliffe reported $9.0 million cash on hand, compared to $2.6 million for Youngkin.

The reporting period was from May 28 through June 30, and doesn’t reflect a perfect apples-to-apples comparison between the candidates. Youngkin had already secured the GOP nomination at a May 8 convention. Democrats did not hold their primary until June 8, so the reporting time reflects a period when he was a candidate both in the primary and general elections.

Whether McAuliffe’s lead in cash will hold up is unclear. Youngkin, who made a fortune as an executive with The Carlyle Group, has lent his campaign $12 million already. He did not lend any money in the current period, but certainly could do so between now and November.

The reports also show Youngkin spent significantly more money ($5.2 million) than McAuliffe ($1.6 million) in the reporting period. Youngkin, a political newcomer, has flooded the airwaves with ads, including in the expensive Washington market, to introduce himself to voters.

McAuliffe’s report shows smaller expenditures for the period with an emphasis in online advertising and streaming platforms.

Christina Freundlich, a spokesperson for the McAuliffe campaign, said Friday that McAuliffe’s most recent report is a record-breaker for Virginia and shows a huge surge of support after his primary win. She said the campaign is particularly pleased with the large number of small donors who gave $100 or less.

“That we were able to raise this kind of money from small donors in a climate where Donald Trump is not in the White House is something we’re incredibly proud of,” she said.

Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter said the reports show that “Democrats know this race is tight and are rushing to McAuliffe’s aid to try to make up ground. … We’ve seen overwhelming support for Glenn’s candidacy that continues to build each day.”

An independent candidate, Princess Blanding, reported $1,373 in contributions and $7,739 cash on hand.

Virginia has the only open-seat gubernatorial race in the nation this year, with Democratic incumbent Ralph Northam ineligible to seek reelection. Virginia’s off-year elections traditionally attract outsize attention as the two parties seek to establish momentum and gauge voter sentiment heading into the congressional mid-term elections.

In other statewide races, Democrat Haya Ayala raised $489,000 for her bid for lieutenant governor, and reported $376,000 cash on hand. That led Republican Winsome Sears, who reported raising $232,000 with $214,000 cash on hand.

In the race for attorney general, Republican Jason Miyares outraised Democratic incumbent Mark Herring during the reporting period. Miyares raised $463,000 and had $569,000 cash on hand, while Herring raised $335,000 and had $274,000 cash on hand

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — The Virginia PTA said Saturday that one of its officials had resigned after she was filmed at a rally saying, “Let them die,” during a speech interpreted as a denouncement of opponents of critical race theory.

The nonprofit association said in a statement posted online that its executive committee had “requested and received” the resignation of Michelle Leete, who served as its vice president of training.

The announcement came two days after Leete’s speech Thursday evening ahead of a Fairfax County school board meeting, The Washington Post reported. Leete was part of a group supporting transgender rights, and an opposing group was also gathered for a rally against critical race theory, according to the newspaper.

Leete can be heard saying, “Let’s deny this off-key band of people that are anti-education, anti-teacher, anti-equity, anti-history…” followed by a long string of other descriptors. She then said, “Let them die,” and a crowd listening to her cheered and applauded, video of the rally shows.

Leete, who also serves as first vice president for the Fairfax County chapter of the NAACP, told the newspaper for a story published Friday that she meant to wish death on the parents’ “ideals,” not any person.

She did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday, the Post reported. Nor did the Fairfax NAACP immediately respond to a question asking whether Leete would retain her role with the group.