Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — For the third straight day Virginia health authorities are reporting a drop in the state’s number of new coronavirus cases.
Numbers released Monday by the Virginia Department of Health show 453 new coronavirus cases reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 8,990. The death toll increased from 277 to 300.
The drop in new cases marks the first time since the virus arrived in Virginia that the state has reported three consecutive days of declines, according to data kept by the Virginia Public Access Project.
Northam and federal officials have indicated they want to see a 14-day trend of declining cases before phasing in an end to the restrictions on businesses that Northam imposed in a series of executive orders to fight the spread of the virus.
The total number of Virginians who have been hospitalized for COVID-19 has reached 1,500. That’s out of the more than 56,700 people who have been tested according to the Virginia Department of Health data released this morning. That data which is recorded over a 24-hour span shows the death toll rising from 277 yesterday to 300 today.
Roanoke County Public Schools superintendent Dr. Ken Nicely vows that for the graduates of five high schools next month there WILL be some sort of live, in-person event once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted – in the meantime everyone will have to listen to “Pomp and Circumstance” online, as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
The director of elections in Salem says she is uncomfortable shredding the current absentee ballots that would be voided if the General Assembly moves May municipal elections to November. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
Governor Northam wants the May municipal elections delayed until November. Many cities and towns, including Salem and Vinton, are scheduled to hold their elections next month, but Northam says delaying them is the best way to proceed under current circumstances.
It is up to General Assembly to enact that proposal. As for the June Republican Congressional primaries, Northam has the authority to postpone them for up to two weeks, and he is doing so. They are now scheduled for June 23rd.
NEWS RELEASE: RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today requested the General Assembly move the May General Election and all special elections scheduled for May 5, 2020 to the November 3, 2020 General Election date to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The Governor is also exercising his statutory authority (§ 24.2-603.1 of the Code of Virginia) to move the June primary elections from June 9, 2020 to June 23, 2020.
- There will be one ballot in November.
- Voters who are qualified in November will be able to vote in November. An individual who was not qualified in May but is qualified in November will be able to vote.
- All absentee ballots already cast will be discarded. Virginians will have an opportunity to vote for local elected officials in November.
- Those officials whose terms are to expire as of June 30, 2020 will continue in office until their successors have been elected on the November 3, 2020 and have been qualified to serve.
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Virginia Tech announced it will move all summer classes online and impose a hiring freeze amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to moving classes online, new student orientation for the fall semester and summer conferences will also take place digitally, the university said Monday. Events that cannot be moved online are slated to be canceled.
In another announcement, the university told faculty and staff to prepare for budget cuts for the upcoming academic year citing the pandemic’s impact on the school’s budget. They added that only jobs deemed “essential” are allowed to be filled.
From the City of Roanoke: The current COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has affected City government operations and its financial outlook, impacts that now require the City to make some difficult decisions. As a result, effective April 7, 2020, the City of Roanoke is implementing a temporary furlough of certain part-time positions—39 in total. At this time, the City is uncertain as to how long this furlough will last; however, the City will communicate with affected employees as the financial outlook for the coming fiscal year becomes clearer. “It is unfortunate that the situation has come to this, but with the pandemic forcing closure of our facilities and cancellation of all community programming, the furloughs became necessary,” said City Manager Bob Cowell.
The stimulus package has been signed into law. It features economic relief for small businesses that are being praised by Virginia Senator Mark Warner. WFIR’s Ian Price has more: