Resources for Faith and Community Leaders
Virginia COVID-19 Response
Hosted by the Office of Governor Ralph Northam
and the Virginia Department of Health
Dear Faith and/or Community Leader:

On behalf of the Office of Governor Ralph S. Northam and the Virginia Department of Health, we want to send our appreciation to everyone who registered and participated in our inaugural faith and community leaders call on Monday March 23, 2020. Our virtual townhall administrator provided official confirmation that 3,650 diverse faith and community leaders registered for our historical event, which underscores the unprecedented momentum we are building with diverse communities around our great Commonwealth of Virginia in service to others. 

As promised, we are contacting you to keep the dialogue going. We want to ensure that you have the resources to continue to serve the communities we all love so much in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. You can expect us to stay in communication with you with updated information and we hope you do the same. One way you can share your needs or provide us valuable input is by completing our short survey, which is the most effective and direct way to have all 3,650 of your voices heard by the administration. You can complete our survey here.
COVID-19 Conference Call with Faith and Community Leaders

On behalf of the Governor's Office, Pastor Luke Torian, who also serves as Delegate for the 52nd District, recorded a special video message to encourage faith leaders to connect virtually. 
Resources for Faith and Community Leaders
Virginia COVID-19 Response
Virginia Department of Health

For the most recent information from the Virginia Department of Health regarding the impact of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth of Virginia, please visit: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/

Prevention Tips (What is social distancing and how can I do my part to slow the spread of COVID-19??) http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/prevention-tips/
Virginia Medicaid is Taking Action to Fight COVID-19
Sign up for regular updates and information about your health coverage and COVID-19 http://bit.ly/VAMedicaidUpdates

Follow DMAS on social media to keep up with the latest Medicaid news on coronavirus.
Have other questions about how Medicaid is improving access to care in response to COVID-19? Contact DMAS here: https://bit.ly/ContactDMAS

Virginians can apply for Medicaid coverage at any time at commonhelp.virginia.gov . Don’t wait, apply today.
Food Insecurity

  • The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is loosening income eligibility requirements for the Emergency Food Assistance Program to increase access during the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • VDACS is also reducing the threat of exposure for seniors in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) by changing delivery schedules—while maintaining the quantity of food—and removing delivery signing requirements.
  • The Federation of Virginia Food Banks, representing seven regional food banks, is standardizing low- and no-touch distribution, pre-boxed items, and drive-through distribution mechanisms.
Feeding Virginia during COVID19

Heidi L. Hertz ( heidi.hertz@governor.virginia.gov ), MS, RD, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. Office of Governor Ralph S. Northam, Commonwealth of Virginia encouraged us to text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877 for meal sites/nutrition availability relative to schools/school meal replacement.
Guidance for Using Virginia 211

2-1-1 is Virginia’s central source for information and referrals for essential health and human service needs.
  • At the 2-1-1 website, 211virginia.org, people can search for resources, view important alerts, and find out how to contact 211 by email, chat or phone.
  • People can dial 2-1-1. This is a free phone number that provides information about local resources such as food assistance, shelter, utility assistance, and health care. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When someone dials 2-1-1.
  • If an organization provides ongoing services to the general public, they are encouraged to add their organization to the 2-1-1 database through the link “Update/Add Your Agency” at the top of the 2-1-1 web site.
  • New time-limited services that are open to the general public during this health emergency, can be sent to 211admin@councilofcommunityservices.org.
Financial Resources Update

Curtis Brown ( curtis.brown@vdem.virginia.gov ), Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)
  • Disaster Funding Available through FEMA
  • Volunteering: All individuals/organizations interested in volunteering to send their information to this email address: volunteers@vdem.virginia.gov
  • Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD): conducting weekly calls with their member organizations. Information available here: vavoad.org

Tracey Jeter Wiley ( tracey.jeter@sbsd.virginia.gov ), Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (VDSBSD)  The disaster declaration will allow SBA to provide assistance to Virginia businesses and nonprofits negatively impacted by COVID-19.  
  • Virginia businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 are now eligible to make online applications to the SBA for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL) at disasterloan.sba.gov. 

Support for Small Businesses

Virginia received a statewide Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Small businesses and non-profit organizations located throughout the state can now apply for a loan of up to $2 million from the SBA to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other expenses.

Unemployment Insurance

  • Governor Northam directed the Commissioner of the Virginia Employment Commission to waive the one-week waiting period to ensure workers can receive benefits as soon as possible.
  • Workers should apply to receive unemployment benefits if an employer needs to temporarily slow or cease operations due to COVID-19. If a worker has been issued a notice to self-quarantine by a medical or public health official and is not receiving paid sick or medical leave from their employer, they may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits. In addition, a worker may be eligible for unemployment benefits if they must stay home to care for an ill family member and are not receiving paid family medical leave from their employer.
  • The Office of the Governor provided a Frequently Asked Questions guide for workers that have been temporarily laid off or discharged during this public health crisis.
Corporate, Sales, and Individual Taxes

  • Businesses impacted by COVID-19 can request to defer the payment of state sales tax due March 20, 2020 for 30 days. When granted, businesses will be able to file no later than April 20, 2020 with a waiver of any penalties.
  • The Virginia Department of Taxation is extending the due date of payment of Virginia individual and corporate income taxes. While filing deadlines remain the same, the due date for individual and corporate income tax will now be June 1, 2020.
Utilities

The State Corporation Commission (SCC ) issued an order directing utilities it regulates, such as electric, natural gas, and water companies in Virginia, to suspend service disconnections for 60 days to provide immediate relief for any customer, residential and business, who may be financially impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Comcast Opens Xfinity WiFi Network Nationally for Free

Offering Unlimited Data for Free, Confirms Its Commitment to Connecting Low-Income Families https://corporate.comcast.com/covid-19
Dominion Energy Commits $1 Million to Coronavirus Relief Efforts

  • $250,000 committed to American Red Cross to help its response
  • $750,000 committed to nonprofits as response plans develop and local needs are defined

RICHMOND, Va., March 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation is committing $1 million to aid COVID-19 relief efforts across the United States. The funds will support national organizations, such as the American Red Cross, as well as address local needs. 
For more information, visit https://www.dominionenergy.com/coronavirus .  
JP Morgan Chase Commits $50 Million to Address Coronavirus Impact www.blackenterprise.com

  • With economies on the verge of crashing, the banking institution has made a $50 million philanthropic investment to help address immediate and long-term impacts of the viral outbreak.
  • In its plan, Chase will pledge $15 million in initial support for the communities and small businesses that have been severely impacted by the virus, $5 million to immediate healthcare, food, and global humanitarian relief, $2 million to worldwide nonprofit partners, $8 million to assist small businesses across the U.S, Europe, and China, and $35 million to leverage core areas of expertise to help vulnerable groups facing hardships due to the virus.
The United Way is....

  • Leading the Coronavirus Response Hotline (757-858-7777) to provide non-medical assistance
  • Connecting clients to available resources using the Unite Us care coordination platform
  • Administering the Coronavirus Recovery Fund to raise funds to support recovery efforts
  • Publishing up-to-date data, verified services and resources on GHRconnects
  • People can find their local United Way by visiting:
Urban League’s COVID-19 Role
  • ULHR facilitates clergy and community leaders on a bi-weekly call with Sentara Healthcare to get accurate and timely information regarding COVID-19
  • ULHR in partnership with UW via the Unite Us system is providing economic relief in a coordinated way to handle the needs regionally.
  • ULHR is posting of test sites and food centers.
  • ULHR is collaborating with other nonprofits and service providers
  • ULHR is delivering food, meds and other relief supplies to at risk clients (immune deficiencies, without transportation or ability to access online assistance)
  • ULHR is providing credit counseling and loan modifications assistance using DocuSign and conference calls (required forms located on our website)
ULHR Operations Contact Information
Gil Bland - President
Mary Bibbs - Operations ( mbibbs@ulhr.org )
121 College Place Ste 105
Norfolk Virginia, 23510
757-627-0864
336.269.9943
Child Care

The Northam Administration has issued guidance f or child care providers to combat the spread of COVID-19, while ensuring ongoing support for essential personnel. These guidelines include:

  • Child care providers should limit capacity to 10 total individuals per room and prioritize care for children of essential personnel.
  • Children should eat meals in their own classrooms and increase distance as much as possible, such as allowing only one classroom at a time to go outside and staggering exits and entrances to reduce contact.
  • Staff and children should focus on basic health precautions, including regular hand washing and cleaning frequently touched objects.

Please see the follow link on Joint Guidance for Emergency Child Care during Statewide School Closure document ( https://www.dss.virginia.gov/cc/covid-19-docs/Joint%20Guidance%20Document_Emergency%20Child%20Care%20during%20Extended%20School%20Closures.pdf ) issued by the VDOE and the Department of Social Services. This guidance can also be found on the VDOE website: http://doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/office/covid-19.shtml

DSS contact for early-childhood centers is Barbara Newlin ( Barb.Newlin@dss.virginia.gov ) , Director, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Development.

Parents who may need child care may call 866-KIDS-TLC or email KasharaL@va.childcareaware.org for assistance with locating childcare programs that remain open.
K-12 Education

All public and private K-12 schools in Virginia will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year. See the full text of Executive Order 53, here.

  • On March 17, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) requested that the U.S. Department of Education consider statewide SOL testing waivers. On March 20, as soon as allowed by the federal government, VDOE began preparing the state’s application for a federal waiver. 
  • Virginia is also considering actions necessary to provide relief to students on state-mandated SOL tests, which go beyond those mandated by the federal government.
  •  VDOE was approved for a statewide waiver to allow schools to serve as a Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or Seamless Summer Option (SSO) site, to provide food for children who rely on school nutrition programs—all 132 school divisions received waivers to provide food through SFSP and/or SSO.
Higher Education

  • All of Virginia’s public institutions of higher education—15 public four-year institutions, 23 community colleges and Richard Bland College—have moved to temporary online learning.
  • All of Virginia’s private not-for-profit institutions of higher education that make up the Council of Independent Colleges (CICV) have transitioned to temporary online learning.
  • The Virginia Community College System announced that commencement ceremonies for all 23 community colleges have been cancelled for this academic year. A number of public and private colleges have also cancelled in-person spring commencement ceremonies.
Recreation and Entertainment Businesses

The following recreation and entertainment businesses are considered non-essential and must close to the public beginning at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 24, 2020:

  • Theaters, performing arts centers, concert venues, museums, and other indoor entertainment centers
  • Fitness centers, gymnasiums, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities
  • Beauty salons, barber shops, spas, massage parlors, tanning salons, tattoo shops, and any other location where personal care or personal grooming services are performed that would not allow compliance with social distancing guidelines to remain six feet apart
  • Racetracks and historic horse racing facilities
  • Bowling alleys, skating rinks, arcades, amusement parks, trampoline parks, fairs, arts and craft facilities, aquariums, zoos, escape rooms, indoor shooting ranges, public and private social clubs, and all other places of indoor public amusement

Businesses in violation of this order may be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor. For answers to commonly asked questions, please see here . F or the full text of Executive Order 53, see here .
Dining and On-Site Alcohol Establishments  

All dining and congregation areas in the following establishments must close to the public beginning at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. These establishments may continue to offer delivery and/or takeout services. Establishments include
  • Restaurants
  • Dining establishments
  • Food courts
  • Farmers markets
  • Breweries
  • Microbreweries
  • Distilleries
  • Wineries
  • Tasting rooms
Businesses in violation of this order may be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor. For answers to commonly asked questions, please see here . For the full text of Executive Order 53, see here .
Retail Businesses

The following retail businesses are considered essential and may remain open during normal business hours:
  • Grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retailers that sell food and beverage products or pharmacy products, including dollar stores, and department stores with grocery or pharmacy operations
  • Medical, laboratory, and vision supply retailers
  • Electronic retailers that sell or service cell phones, computers, tablets, and other communications technology
  • Automotive parts, accessories, and tire retailers as well as automotive repair facilities
  • Home improvement, hardware, building material, and building supply retailers
  • Lawn and garden equipment retailers
  • Beer, wine, and liquor stores
  • Retail functions of gas stations and convenience stores
  • Retail located within healthcare facilities
  • Banks and other financial institutions with retail functions
  • Pet stores and feed stores
  • Printing and office supply stores
  • Laundromats and dry cleaners
State Employees

  • The Governor has directed agencies to implement liberal teleworking policies for state employees. 
  • Virginia has activated paid Public Health Emergency Leave for state employees, when needed.
  • All official travel outside of Virginia by state employees has been halted, with increased flexibility for inter-state commuters and essential personnel. 
Certificate of Public Need Waiver

Governor Northam signed an executive order giving hospitals and nursing homes the ability to increase their bed capacity without needing prior governmental approval, being issued a new waiver, or going through red tape.
State Correctional Facilities

  • The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) has canceled offender visitation at all facilities until further notice. Off-site video visitation is still available.
  • The Department of Corrections has suspended the transfer of individuals from local and regional jails for a minimum of 30 days.
  • A dedicated COVID-19 public information line with an updated, recorded message is operational. The phone number is (804) 887-8484
  • Additional information about the steps being taken at Virginia’s correctional facilities is available here.

Regional and Local Jails

Governor Northam is encouraging local criminal justice officials, including Commonwealth’s attorneys, defense attorneys, sheriffs, and other jail officials, to explore proactive measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring public safety.
Courts

Governor Northam requested and the Supreme Court of Virginia granted a judicial emergency in response to COVID-19.
  • From Monday, March 16 through Monday, April 6, non-essential, non-emergency court proceedings in all district and circuit courts are suspended absent a specific exemption.
  • This includes a suspension on new eviction cases for tenants who are unable to pay rent as a result of COVID-19. All non-exempted court deadlines are tolled and extended for a period of 21 days.
Department of Motor Vehicles

  • Governor Northam directed the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to close Virginia’s 75 DMV offices, as well as mobile units, to the public.
  • Online services will remain available, and anyone needing to renew a license or vehicle registration is encouraged to do so online. DMV will grant a 60-day extension to those who cannot renew online, or whose license or registration expires before May 15.
  • Governor Northam directed the Virginia Department of State Police to suspend enforcement of Motor Vehicle Safety Inspections for 60 days. 
CHARLOTTESVILLE AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Community Emergency Response Fund

In partnership with  Cville Community Cares ,  United Way of Greater Charlottesville ,  City of Charlottesville  and  County of Albemarle  we will disburse funds to households experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 virus. Financial assistance is available to households in Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Nelson, Louisa, Fluvanna, Greene, Orange, and Buckingham. To access funds, individuals should call the  Community Resource Hotline  at  434-234-4490 .
Flyers with information are above. Please share this through your network to reach households who might need this support.
Please contact your area United Ways for support on your area.
Next Steps
In our next communication with you, we will provide a synthesis of all 500+ questions that were submitted on our historical call. In the interim, we'd like to underscore our response t o one of the questions addressed toward the end our meeting about Executive Order (EO) 53: All diverse faith communities and faith leaders in the Commonwealth are essential to our state, which is why Dr. Janice Underwood and Governor Northam felt it was so important to seek partnership and solidarity with faith and community leaders in an unprecedented virtual gathering, where more than 3,600 people registered to take part in a historical conversation. Our virtual town hall provided faith leaders access to accurate, tangible, and actionable support for their membership and the communities they serve. The Governor, who shared openly on the call that he is also a man of faith, firmly acknowledges that our faith communities are a vital part of our society and the emergency response to the COVID-19 crisis. EO 53 does not close places of worship, but limits all public and private gatherings to a total of ten people. We understand that this causes a great complication for many faith and business leaders, but it is in the interest of public health. Therefore, we encourage faith leaders to explore all alternatives to in-person worship, fellowship, and religious ceremonies that help to maintain the ten person limit.  Executive Order 53’s essential designation applies only to determine which retail stores are essential for the access of daily goods and materials. Other than retailers, EO 53 does not designate any organization, service, or business as essential.   

In Solidarity, 
The Office of Health Equity, VDH in collaboration with
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Governor Ralph S. Northam
Website: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/health-equity/ | Mainline: (804) 864-7435

Veronica Cosby
Virginia Department of Health
Office of Health Equity
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