Across Virginia
(VA ABC photo)
2020 was a big year for liquor sales in Virginia. We asked the ABC for statewide sales figures for the last six months of the year compared to the same period one year before. The bottom line: those sales were up more than 15%. Blended whiskey and tequila saw much larger percentage increases; vodka and bourbon easily remain the top sellers in ABC stores. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
From Virginia ABC:
According to the latest numbers released this morning by the Virginia Department of Health there are 168 new confirmed or probable coronavirus cases, and 2 new hospitalizations being reported in the Roanoke Valley. 52 new cases in Roanoke City, 23 new cases , and 2 new hospitalizations in Roanoke County, 86 new cases in Salem, and 7 new cases in Botetourt County.
NEWS RELEASE: (ROANOKE, Virginia) — The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts (RCAHD) are pleased to announce that we are working with our community partners to ensure a smooth a transition into Phase 1b starting on Monday, January 11, 2021. [In addition to people over 75, the 1b category covers people living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters or migrant labor camps, as well as “’frontline essential workers.”]
We will be focusing on the prioritization strategies as outlined by the Governor and as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and adopted by Virginia Disaster Medical Advisory Committee and the Vaccine Advisory Workgroup. More information about who is eligible and what phase Virginia is in at any given time will be posted at www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine/. Community members can best stay informed through the media, on our website and Facebook pages, and by visiting VDH’s FAQs at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-faq/.
“It will take time, patience, and flexibility for everyone who is in Phase 1b and who wants the COVID-19 vaccine to be able to receive it. This will not happen overnight. There is a great deal of planning and logistical work that still needs to be done to ensure that not only are we optimizing how many vaccines we can get into the arms of Virginians in our health districts, but that we are doing so in a way that ensures that health equity among those who are eligible to receive the vaccine. Because of differences in jurisdictions within our health districts, some areas may move into Phase 1b faster than others,” said Dr. Cynthia Morrow, RCAHD Health Director.
(FROM AP) — Some local health departments across Virginia will begin offering COVID-19 vaccines next week for limited portions of the general public as the state begins to move into its second phase of vaccine distribution.
The Virginia Department of Health said in a news release Friday that 11 local health districts expect to begin gradually adding vaccination opportunities for people who fall into what’s called Phase 1b of the state’s distribution plan, a group that includes people over age 75, incarcerated people and certain types of workers. All of the state is expected to move to Phase 1b before the end of January, the news release said.
“We are excited to begin vaccinating more people as we continue to work to put this pandemic behind us,” State Health Commissioner Dr. M. Norman Oliver said in a statement. “The number of calls to our VDH hotline and to our local health departments asking about vaccines is evidence that people want this protection. Our goal is to get shots into arms as quickly as possible.”
In addition to people over 75, the 1b category covers people living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters or migrant labor camps, as well as “’frontline essential workers.” The state defines that group as people in jobs critical to the functioning of society who are at substantially higher risk of exposure to the virus. Included are police, childcare workers and teachers, grocery story workers and mail carriers. More guidance is available online.
Alena Yarmosky, a spokeswoman for Gov. Ralph Northam, said Virginia elected officials would also be included in 1b.
“Elected officials are essential to the functioning of government, and many are required to regularly interact with the public as part of their job. Those who have high-risk medical conditions will be initially prioritized; lower-risk elected officials will be at the end of group 1b,” she wrote in an email.
In the current phase, 1a, only health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities have been eligible to receive a dose.
Earlier this week, Northam pledged that the state would be moving more quickly to distribute the vaccines and would implement a “use it or lose it” policy, saying health systems that don’t move fast enough to get shots into arms will receive fewer doses in future distribution rounds.
Data from the health department show Virginia has received nearly 482,000 doses of the vaccine so far and nearly 149,000 have been administered.
The state said the following health districts will be moving into phase 1b: Alexandria, Arlington, Cumberland Plateau, Fairfax, Lenowisco, Lord Fairfax, Loudoun, Mount Rogers, New River, Prince William and Roanoke County/Allegheny.
Marian Hunter, a spokeswoman for the state health department, said local health districts should have more information about vaccine availability on their websites by Monday. An interactive map showing which health district is in what distribution phase will also be available next week on the state health department website, she said.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Workers at Virginia Commonwealth University are removing Confederate-associated names from its buildings in response to a resolution calling on them to be taken down.
While the university began discussions about removing Confederate names in 2017, it took action in August following nationwide protests of the police killing of George Floyd and the removal of Confederate statues on Monument Avenue in Richmond, the Richmond-Times Dispatch reported.
The school’s board of visitors unanimously approved a resolution in September to remove 16 names, plaques and other symbols on campus that honor people associated with the Confederacy. VCU has identified 27 plaques, signs, letters, one bust and one statue pedestal that were scheduled to be removed or covered over. So far seven items have been addressed.
The name of former Confederate president Jefferson Davis was taken down in November from the chapel in the West Hospital building. Workers also dismantled a plaque recognizing former Confederate vice president Alexander Stephens from a building on the Medical College of Virginia campus.
Sen. Amanda Chase Facebook
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Virginia gubernatorial candidate who is an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump has had new restrictions placed on her Facebook account after blaming antifa activists for Wednesday’s deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Democrats, meanwhile, called on her to resign.
Republican state Sen. Amanda Chase said Facebook has blocked her from making posts or comments on the social media site for 30 days. She said she’s also banned from doing live video or buying advertisements for 60 days.
A spokesman for Facebook did not immediately comment.
The social media giants Twitter and Facebook also took the unprecedented step of suspending Trump’s privileges to post messages on their platforms, at least temporarily. Both companies said Trump had violated their policies.
Trump supporters, encouraged by the president to march on the Capitol, made up the mob that overran Congress on Wednesday and clashed with police. There’s no evidence that left-wing groups were involved. But Chase claimed otherwise, and said the social media companies are “targeting conservative leaders who support President Trump.”
Also Friday, the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus called on Chase to resign from the state Senate, saying she had “galvanized domestic terrorists” and “has unequivocally committed insurrection.”
Chase attended the president’s rally Wednesday in which Trump urged supporters to march to the Capitol. Chase said in a Facebook video that she left near the end of the rally on the advice of her security team, and there is no indication she was part of the group that stormed the Capitol.
Chase said she’s not going to resign and called the Democrats’ statements “laughable.”
“The blood is on their hands because they relaxed many of our election laws,” she said.
According to the latest numbers released this morning by the Virginia Department of Health there are 134 new confirmed or probable coronavirus cases, 1 new death and 4 new hospitalizations being reported in the Roanoke Valley. 21 new cases in Roanoke City, 62 new cases , 2 new hospitalization and 1 new death in Roanoke County, 24 new cases in Salem, and 27 new cases and 2 new hospitalizations in Botetourt County.
According to the latest numbers released this morning by the Virginia Department of Health there are 186 new confirmed or probable coronavirus cases, 1 new death and 4 new hospitalizations being reported in the Roanoke Valley. 36 new cases , and 2 new hospitalizations in Roanoke City, 94 new cases , 2 new hospitalization, 1 new death in Roanoke County, 19 new cases in Salem, and 37 new cases in Botetourt County.
RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam issued the following statement today after he deployed members of the Virginia National Guard and Virginia State Police to respond to events in Washington, D.C.
“I have been working all afternoon and this evening with leaders in Washington D.C., the Virginia National Guard, Virginia State Police, and others in the federal government.
“The violence we saw at the U.S. Capitol today was nothing short of an armed insurrection and a humiliating assault on American democracy. The President incited this mob with his refusal to accept the lawful results of a fair and secure election. And the members of Congress who have enabled him—and continue to encourage and praise his efforts—bear just as much responsibility.
“This did not come about overnight. When elected leaders purposefully reject facts and fan the flames of conspiracy theories, all in pursuit of power, they are taking dangerous steps. And now we are seeing where those steps can lead. God forbid we experience anything worse.
“I continue to pray for the safety of every member of the House and Senate, all the staff, the journalists, everyone who works in the Capitol. And I commend the Virginia National Guard and Virginia State Police for quickly stepping up in this time of great need.”
“Let me be clear: Virginia will be there for as long as it takes to protect our nation’s capital and ensure the peaceful transition of power.”
According to the latest numbers released this morning by the Virginia Department of Health there are 210 new confirmed or probable coronavirus cases, 2 new deaths and 4 new hospitalizations being reported in the Roanoke Valley. 75 new cases , 1 new death, and 2 new hospitalizations in Roanoke City, 99 new cases and 1 new hospitalization in Roanoke County, 22 new cases, 1 new hospitalization and 1 new death in Salem, and 14 new cases in Botetourt County.
According to the latest numbers released this morning by the Virginia Department of Health there are 147 new confirmed or probable coronavirus cases, and 4 new hospitalizations being reported in the Roanoke Valley. 81 new cases ,and 3 new hospitalizations in Roanoke City, 37 new cases in Roanoke County, 14 new cases and 1 new hospitalization in Salem, and 15 new cases in Botetourt County.