Happy Monday, Community! Here are your VA Updates for August 30 📬
We are sharing information on the upcoming Tropical Storm, more ways to help and support the Afghan refugees coming to Virginia, Rent Relief information and more. We encourage you to visit the link in our bio for direct links to the resources and opportunities mentioned.
We have news updates on;
- Tropical Storm Ida
- Continued Help for Afghan Refugees
- Rent Relief Update
- COVID-19 in Schools
- Vaccine Update
- COVID-19 Data
🔶 Learn more about the COVID-19 and the vaccine @ vaccinate.virginia.gov
⚠️ FREE COVID-19 TESTING & VACCINES: Counties across Virginia continue to offer free COVID-19 testing and vaccines. As COVID starts to rise again, we will repost all free testing sites and vaccination clinics when they become available on our instagram story.
Tropical Storm Ida
Wednesday is a First Alert Weather Day as the rest of Tropical Storm Ida arrives in Virginia with the threat for heavy rain and potentially a few tornadoes.
Ida is expected to be just north and west of Central Virginia on Wednesday. This positioning will place Central Virginia in the right front quadrant of the storm, which is the area in a tropical system most favorable for tornadoes.
Several Virginia Red Cross volunteers have already landed along the Gulf Coast and several others are on the way to help out as Ida made landfall Sunday. Sunday marks the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina hitting the Gulf Coast.
The Red Cross is accepting new volunteers and donations to help out in states impacted by Ida. Learn more in the link in our bio or at redcross.org
Continued Help for Refugees
Since Virginians learned that Fort Lee and Fort Pickett would be temporarily housing Afghan refugees, several local residents have reached out to provide assistance.
Both Fort Lee and Fort Pickett shared information on their respective Facebook pages about organizations for local residents to contact to get involved. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) said that it has been working with the U.S. government to help process arrivals and provide ongoing support as refugees travel to their final destination in the U.S..
The largest need across all of the organization’s offices is finding housing for incoming Afghans. Through the IRC, there are a number of ways the public can help (links in bio)
Become a volunteer by helping at the IRC office
Donate directly to the IRC in Richmond
Shop from the IRC’s Target Charity Wishlist
Local residents can open their home for emergency temporary housing with IRC / Airbnb Open Homes Program
Rent Relief Update
The Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that evictions can resume across the nation and claimed the CDC lacks the authority to impose a ban.
People who are out of work, had their hours at the job cut or are facing expensive COVID-19 medical bills, could still be eligible for help from Virginia’s Rent Relief Program.
The Roanke Times last reported that the rent relief program had paid out more than $335 million dollars and provided over 48,000 households rent and mortgage assistance.
People are able to receive rent relief up to three months in advance. If you are worried about paying your bills, you can ask for help on Virginia’s Rent Relief Program website.
If you need help with signing up or knowing your rights, you can call 1-833-NOEVICT.
Sources: roanoke.com & wric.com
COVID-19 in Schools
As students, teachers and staff return to in-person learning, COVID-19 outbreaks have become a problem in several schools across Virginia.
Last week, Roanoke County shut down an entire elementary school because of an outbreak. In Lynchburg, one elementary school went to remote learning as a precaution because of community spread. Amherst County also closed four schoolsdue to outbreaks. Hundreds of students also went under quarantine last week in Franklin County.
Cases also started to rise in Fairfax County Public Schools and parents asked school officials to give them the option of returning to virtual at-home learning.
Liberty University moved all classes to online and suspended large activities because of a spike in Covid-19 cases among students and staff. The quarantine is scheduled to end September 10, the university said.
Sources: wset.com & nbcnews.com
Vaccine Updates
New data from the Virginia Department of Health shows the percentage of children among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 is increasing.
Experts say the shift demonstrates the urgency of youth vaccinations and for continued precautions in school. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has been tracking similar trends across the South where there is an alarming spike in cases among children. Nationwide data shows a four-fold increase in the past month.
Vaccine Summary: As of Monday, August 30
Total Doses Administered: 9,943,774
People Fully Vaccinated: 4,830.302 or 56.6%
% of Adults (18+) Fully Vaccinated: 67.7%
People Vaccinated with at least 1 dose: 5,458.608 or 64%
% of Adults (18+) Vaccinated with at least 1 dose: 76.1%
For more information on Virginia's vaccination efforts, please visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA
Sources : vdh.virginia.gov & wavy.com
COVID-19 Data
The Virginia Department of Health reported Monday that the statewide total for COVID-19 cases is 762,948. The 762,948 consists of 581,537 confirmed and 181,411 probable cases. There are 11,810 COVID-19 deaths, and Virginia’s 7-day positivity rate is now at 10.1%.
Source: vdh.virginia.gov
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Thanks for joining us this week! Stay tuned for more coming soon on the Election.