Across Virginia
According to the latest numbers released this morning by the Virginia Department of Health there are 127 new probable or confirmed coronavirus cases, 1 new death and 1 new hospitalization being reported in the Roanoke Valley. Health officials report 59 new cases and 1 new hospitalization and 1 new death in Roanoke City, 38 new cases in Roanoke County, 14 new cases in Salem, and 16 new cases in Botetourt County.
As we approach the holiday season, it is sometimes difficult to remember how much has changed in the last nine months. In Virginia, it began with a State of Emergency that Governor Northam declared on March 12th – and that was just the beginning. WFIR’s Evan Jones takes us through some key points of the year as he reports In Depth:
FROM VIRGINIA STATE POLICE: RICHMOND – Over the Thanksgiving statistical counting period, preliminary data shows that speed played a factor in at least four fatal traffic crashes. Those four crashes led to the deaths of six people, including a teenager and 6-year-old boy. In addition, the teenager and young boy were not wearing appropriate safety restraints.
“Speed and lack of personal safety restraints continue to cost Virginians their lives,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “As we continue through the holiday season, I am pleading with Virginians of all ages to respect and comply with all traffic safety laws. Virginia State Police and your loved ones want you to arrive at your destination safely.”
In total, during the five-day period which began at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 25, 2020 and concluded at midnight Nov. 29, 2020, 10 people lost their lives in eight traffic crashes in Virginia. The fatal crashes occurred in the cities of Lynchburg, Newport News and Richmond and the counties of Frederick, Pittsylvania, Rockingham and Shenandoah. Of those crashes, one was alcohol related, four were speed related and one involved a pedestrian.
This is an increase from 2019 when there were eight traffic fatalities during the five-day Thanksgiving statistical counting period. There were 12 traffic fatalities during the same period in 2018. *
In an effort to prevent traffic deaths and injuries during the Thanksgiving holiday, the Virginia State Police participated in Operation C.A.R.E. – Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort. Operation CARE is an annual, state-sponsored, national program during which state police increases its visibility and traffic enforcement efforts during the five-day statistical counting period.
The 2020 Thanksgiving Holiday C.A.R.E. initiative resulted in troopers citing 4,930 speeders and 1,706 reckless drivers statewide. Virginia troopers charged 67 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and cited 498 drivers for failing to buckle up themselves and/or juvenile passengers.
State police responded to 733 traffic crashes across the Commonwealth, with 117 of those resulting in injuries. State police also assisted 1,609 disabled/stranded motorists during the Thanksgiving weekend.
Funds generated from summonses issued by Virginia State Police go directly to court fees and the state’s Literary Fund, which benefits public school construction, technology funding and teacher retirement.
Governor Northam says Virginians need to work together to combat and overcome COVID-19 – and not battle each other. It follows action this week in Campbell County, near Lynchburg, where the board of supervisors passed what members call a “First Amendment Sanctuary Resolution.” It states the governor’s COVID-related executive orders violate citizen’s constitutional rights. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
According to the latest numbers released this morning by the Virginia Department of Health there are 50 new probable or confirmed coronavirus cases, 1 new death and 1 new hospitalization being reported in the Roanoke Valley. Health officials report 24 new cases and 1 new hospitalization in Roanoke City, 18 new cases in Roanoke County, 1 new death in Salem, and 8 new cases in Botetourt County.
Governor Northam says will take a close look at COVID-19 numbers in Virginia in coming days to see if there is any surge in new cases created over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend — and whether to order tighter statewide restrictions. For now, the governor says he will continue the restrictions he ordered almost three weeks ago; they include limiting all gatherings to no more than 25, shutting off restaurant alcohol sales at 10:00 pm and closing restaurants at midnight. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more;
Northam says Virginia has a lower rate of new cases than 45 other states, but he says the current caseload numbers continue to increase, and 15,000 people are currently hospitalized for treatment of the virus in Virginia hospitals.
The governor says workplaces and schools are collectively doing a good job of adhering to health safety guidelines, but most of the new cases are being acquired at churches and small gatherings.
Northam says the state expects to receive its first 70,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine shortly after federal approval is granted, perhaps by mid-December, and the first doses will be administered to health care workers and residents of long-term health care facilities.
According to the latest numbers released this morning by the Virginia Department of Health there are 67 new probable or confirmed coronavirus cases, 1 new death and 2 new hospitalizations being reported in the Roanoke Valley. Health officials report 20 new cases in Roanoke City, 29 new cases, 1 new death, and 1 new hospitalization in Roanoke County, 8 new cases, 1 new hospitalization in Salem, and 10 new cases in Botetourt County.
According to the latest numbers released yesterday morning by the Virginia Department of Health there are 62 new probable or confirmed coronavirus cases, 2 new deaths and 1 new hospitalization being reported in the Roanoke Valley. Health officials report 22 new cases, 1 new death and 1 new hospitalization in Roanoke City, 27 new cases, and 1 new death in Roanoke County, 7 new cases in Salem, and 6 new cases in Botetourt County.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Catholic Diocese of Richmond is putting solar panels on many of its churches, schools and nursing facilities around Virginia.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the diocese has at least seven solar energy projects that have been completed or being planned.
The projects are expected to generate more than 1.6 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity a year for several years while saving the churches and schools more than $2 million in energy operating costs. The diocese is working with the nonprofit Catholic Climate Covenant, which helps guide the U.S. Catholic Church’s response on climate change.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s second medical cannabis processor has opened in Richmond.
Green Leaf Medical of Virginia announced Friday it has opened its doors to registered patients seeking treatment.
“With another processor open here in Virginia, accessibility to treatment is even easier. This is exciting news for medical cannabis patients across the state,” Katie Hellebush, executive director of the Virginia Medical Cannabis Coalition said in a statement.
Before visiting the facility, individuals must register as a patient with the state Board of Pharmacy. In Virginia, any diagnosed condition can qualify for medical cannabis treatment, as long as a registered practitioner issues a written certification, according to the coalition. Virginia’s first dispensary opened in Bristol last month, and others are slated to open.