Sources: Virginia Department of Health http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/ Maryland: Maryland Department of Health https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/ Alexandria Source: City of Alexandria. Graphics by Laurence Foong/Compiled by Ken Moore
Tuesday, May 5
Alexandria Cases: 983
Virginia Cases: 20,256
Fairfax County Cases: 4,834
United States Cases: 1,152,372
Alexandria Deaths: 26
Virginia Deaths: 713
United States Deaths: 67,456
AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Virginia received $7,387,190 in federal funding to help promote access to housing in the Commonwealth, according to Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. The Fairfax County Housing and Redevelopment Authority received $1,076,686, Alexandria Housing and Redevelopment Authority received $351,652 and the Arlington Housing and Redevelopment Authority received $325,540.
“In this time of deep uncertainty, the last thing families should have to worry about is whether they can afford a roof over their heads,” according to Warner and Kaine. “That’s why we’re glad to know this federal funding will go towards helping provide needed housing assistance for families across Virginia.”
Through the CARES Act, Congress provided $1.25 billion for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, which funds the Housing Choice Voucher program that helps lower-income families, the elderly, and disabled individuals afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing. This funding includes $400 million for increased subsidy costs and $850 million for administrative and other expenses incurred by public housing authorities (PHAs), including activities to support or maintain the health and safety of assisted individuals and families, and costs related to retention and support of participating owners.
Monday, May 4
Alexandria Cases: 940
Fairfax County Cases: 4,615
Virginia Cases: 19,492
PHASE ONE EASE: Gov. Ralph Northam outlined a three-phase plan to ease restrictions on businesses and gatherings, when health data supports doing so. Northam said he will extend restrictions on businesses and gatherings of more than 10 people, at least through next Thursday, May 14. Officials will continue to monitor health data to ensure cases are trending down, that hospital capacity remains steady, that testing is increased, and that hospitals and medical facilities have necessary supplies of PPE.
Phase I would continue social distancing, teleworking, recommendations that people wear face coverings in public, and the ban on social gatherings of more than 10 people. It would ease some limits on businesses and faith communities, and would transition the stay at home directive to a “safer at home” guideline, especially for those in vulnerable populations.
Phase I would likely last two to four weeks, as would the two subsequent phases, depending on health metrics.
The next two phases will continue to ease restrictions as long as there’s a downward trend in key health data. These include the number of positive COVID-19 tests, hospitalizations and ICU capacity, and a stable supply of personal protective equipment, along with other factors.
In phase two, other as-yet unnamed restrictions will be eased but social gatherings will be limited to 50 people.
To move to the third phase, the governor said officials will be looking for no evidence of a rebound of infections for a “sustained period of time.”
As part of his announced actions today, the governor also will be revising his stay at home order, calling it “safer at home.”
Sunday, May 3
Report from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue:
TESTING: This includes those who have received testing at the site designated for first responders and those who have shared their results from testing conducted at a private physician.
Known FCFRD personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19: 13
FCFRD personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have recovered: 9
Four personnel are currently COVID-19 positive. Nine of the thirteen COVID-19 positive personnel have fully recovered.
All personnel are closely monitored by a nurse at Fairfax County’s Occupational Health Center. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue will notify the public or any applicable persons if there is any concern of exposure.
WORKER RELIEF AND SECURITY: Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) with Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) released a draft framework for the Worker Relief and Security Act, legislation that would tie ongoing expanded unemployment benefits to the public health emergency and economic conditions. The bill would use automatic triggers to ensure that assistance continues to flow to workers for the duration of the pandemic and the resulting economic crisis even in the absence of action by Congress, said Beyer. “In the face of an historic crisis, the federal government must take extraordinary steps to give the American people sustained help and prevent this economic downturn from becoming a depression,” Beyer said. “This pandemic and the resulting economic crisis may continue to inflict horrifying suffering on the country for many months to come.”