COVID-19 Updates Archive - February 2021
- Feb. 26 Updates
- Feb. 24 Updates
- Feb. 19 Updates
- Feb. 18 Updates
- Feb. 17 Updates
- Feb. 16 Updates
- Feb. 12 Updates
- Feb. 11 Updates
- Feb. 10 Updates
- Feb. 9 Updates
- Feb. 5 Updates
- Feb. 2 Updates
Feb. 26, 2021 Update - 5 p.m.
Chesterfield to Administer Rent and Utility Relief Program
More than $10 million of federal funding to be directly allocated
On Wednesday, Feb. 24, the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors approved a request by the Department of Community Enhancement to appropriate more than $10 million of federal Coronavirus Relief funds to two local nonprofits, Area Congregations Together in Service (ACTS) and Homeward.
ACTS received $10 million to administer the Chesterfield Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance program (CERA).
Homeward received $450,000 to meet the increased need for homeless relief and prevention services due to the pandemic.
Chesterfield County joins Fairfax County as one of only two localities in the state who elected to directly administer its allocation of federal funding.
The county is no stranger to partnering with ACTS on these types of initiatives. Last July, the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors approved the allocation of $50,000 to ACTS for area residents seeking rent and mortgage assistance because of the ongoing economic impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
CERA Program Details
The CERA program is available to help renters who experienced an economic hardship due to COVID-19 meet up to 15 months of past and future rent and utility obligations starting as far back as April 1, 2020.
CERA program funds are only available to renters and can be used for the following:
- Rent and rental arrears
- Utilities and home energy costs and arrears
- Other housing expenses resulting from the pandemic
Applying to CERA
Chesterfield residents can apply to the CERA program two ways:
- Complete the online application.
- Call ACTS at 804-644-2401, press No. 2 and leave a message. Spanish-speaking residents should to press No. 5. All calls will be returned in the order they were received.
Chesterfield landlords may apply to the CERA program on behalf of their tenants by visiting the Chesterfield Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance Information for Landlords webpage.
For more information on eligibility, priority households and what documents are needed to apply, visit the ACTS Chesterfield CERA webpage.
For more information on homeless prevention services, call Homeward at 804-343-2045 or email info@homewardva.org. If you are currently experiencing homelessness, please call the Homeless Crisis Line at 804-972-0813.
Read the full news release.
Feb. 24, 2021 Update - 1:30 p.m.
Additional Pharmacy Networks Added to Federal Partnership to Provide No-Cost COVID-19 Vaccines
Vaccines will be distributed to approximately 140 locations across Virginia
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced today that additional pharmacy networks are beginning to administer COVID-19 vaccines to those age 65 and older as part of a federal partnership that will bring an additional 52,000 vaccines into Virginia this week.
In addition to CVS Pharmacy Inc., which began receiving approximately 26,000 vaccine doses last week through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination, the newly added pharmacies include Walgreens, Walmart Inc., The Kroger Co., Albertsons Companies Inc. (Safeway), Retail Business Services LLC (Food Lion, Giant Food), Topco Associates LLC (Food City) and CPESN LLC, a network of multiple independent community pharmacies. These pharmacy networks will share the additional 26,000 doses. Similar doses are expected in the following weeks.
The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination is a public-private partnership in which the pharmacy companies receive vaccines directly from the federal government to vaccinate priority groups at no cost. Vaccinations are by appointment only.
VDH is working with eligible pharmacies to schedule appointments using Virginia’s centralized pre-registration system, as possible. Beginning this week, the Vaccinate Virginia call center is making calls to individuals on the pre-registration list to schedule appointments for Walmart and Giant vaccination events, while other pharmacies have agreed to use pre-registered individuals to schedule their own appointments.
The vaccines will be distributed to approximately 140 locations across Virginia. VDH will work with these pharmacies to determine which locations will receive vaccinations each week in an effort to focus on high-risk and vulnerable communities. While most will administer vaccinations in their stores, Walmart will hold off-site mass clinics in rotating areas of the state.
The 52,000 doses from the federal partnership are in addition to the approximately 160,000 Virginia received this week to be distributed through local health departments and other providers.
To pre-register, visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682) (TTY users dial 7-1-1).
To register for an appointment at a CVS pharmacy, visit the CVS COVID-19 Vaccine webpage.
Read the full news release on the Virginia Department of Health Newsroom.
Feb. 24, 2021 Update - Noon
Governor Northam Increases Capacity Limits for Outdoor Sports and Entertainment Venues as COVID-19 Hospitalizations and Infection Rates Continue to Fall, Vaccinations Rise
Indoor capacity limits to remain in place, overnight summer camps can open May 1 with mitigation measures
Governor Ralph Northam announced that as COVID-19 hospitalizations and infection rates continue to decline and vaccinations rise in Virginia, certain outdoor sports and entertainment venues may begin to operate at increased capacity starting Monday, March 1. He amended Executive Order Seventy-Two with the next steps of the Forward Virginia plan to safely and gradually ease public health restrictions while mitigating the spread of the virus.
The Commonwealth will maintain a Safer at Home strategy with continued strict health and safety protocols including physical distancing, mask-wearing requirements, gathering limits, and business capacity restrictions. The current modified Stay at Home order will expire on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021.
Governor Northam is beginning to ease public health restrictions by taking steps to increase capacity limits in outdoor settings, where evidence shows the risk of airborne transmission of COVID-19 is lower. The key changes in the Third Amended Executive Order Seventy-Two include:
- Social gatherings: The maximum number of individuals permitted in a social gathering will increase from 10 to 25 people for outdoor settings, while remaining at 10 persons for indoor settings.
- Entertainment venues: Outdoor entertainment and public amusement venues will be able to operate with up to 1,000 individuals or at 30% capacity, whichever is lower. If current trends continue, these venues may be able to operate at 30% capacity with no cap on the number of people permitted to attend starting in April. Indoor entertainment and public amusement venues must continue to operate at 30% capacity with a cap of 250 people. All entertainment venues were previously limited to a maximum of 250 individuals.
- Dining establishments: The on-site sale, consumption and possession of alcohol will be permitted until midnight, extended from 10 p.m. All restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, and tasting rooms still must be closed between midnight and 5 a.m.
- Overnight summer camps: As of Saturday, May 1, overnight summer camps will be able to open with strict mitigation measures in place. Registration can begin now.
The new guidelines will be effective for at least one month and mitigation measures may be eased further if key health metrics continue to improve. Current guidelines for retail businesses, fitness and exercise, large amusement venues and personal grooming services will remain in place. Individuals are strongly encouraged to continue teleworking if possible.
View the full text of Third Amended Executive Order Seventy-Two and Order of Public Health Emergency Nine (PDF).
View updated guidelines for specific sectors (PDF).
Last week, Governor Northam amended Executive Order Seventy-Two (PDF) to increase the number of spectators permitted at outdoor youth sporting events to 250.
Read the full news release on the Virginia Governor Newsroom.
Feb. 19, 2021 Update - 11 a.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 24 Board of Supervisors Meeting to be Held In Person
Citizens may submit comments using online form
The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 24, will be held in person in the Public Meeting Room at 10001 Iron Bridge Road. The online comment form is available for citizens to submit comments ahead of time.
The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. with a work session followed by the 6 p.m. evening session. Both sessions will be held in the Public Meeting Room and will be available for viewing on Comcast Channel 98, Verizon Channel 28, and live streamed on chesterfield.gov and the county’s YouTube channel.
Measures are being put in place to accommodate in person public input while practicing social distancing, as recommended by health officials.
Due to the COVID 19 occupancy limits of the Public Meeting Room, the general public will not able to be seated in the room; however, citizens requesting to speak before the Board will be given the opportunity to comment in person at the appropriate time. Face coverings will be required, and members of the public will be need to pass a simple health screening before entering the building.
Citizens who wish to make comments on the portion of the Board’s agenda known as "Citizen Comment Period on Unscheduled Matters" can submit comments via the online form; or call in comments and leave a message at 804-748-1808. A maximum of 15 citizens may leave comments for this meeting in accordance with the Board’s procedures on Citizen Comment Period on Unscheduled Matters. The portal will close at 5 p.m. on the day prior to the scheduled board meeting (Tuesday, Feb. 23) in order to prepare comments for the public and the board to see in a timely manner prior to the Board meeting.
Citizens who wish to provide input on any and all of the public hearing items on the agenda are encouraged to submit comments via the online form. Citizens without internet access may call in comments and leave a message at 804-748-1808.
The public hearing comment form and the meeting agenda are posted online for citizens to view; citizens are encouraged to view public hearing agenda items and all attachments before submitting a comment.
There are no limits on the number of citizens that can comment on each public hearing item; however, each citizen may submit only one comment per public hearing topic. The allotted comment space is equivalent to the 3-minute allotted time of in-person board meetings. At the end of each day through Feb. 23, the clerk will post all public hearing comments received that day for the public to view. Public hearing comments will be received until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23 in order to prepare comments for the public and the board to see in a timely manner, prior to the board meeting.
All comments received will be distributed to the board and posted online for the public to view in advance of the meeting and will be made a part of the board’s official public record within the rules of procedure adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
- The online public comment form may be accessed directly at www.chesterfield.gov/BOScomments.
- The public comment voicemail phone number is 804-748-1808
As a reminder, the Board of Supervisors meeting will be available for viewing on Comcast Channel 98, Verizon Channel 28, and live streamed on chesterfield.gov and the county’s YouTube channel.
Read the full news release.
Feb. 18, 2021 Update - 3 p.m.
Winter Weather in United States, Virginia Impacts COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery
Second major winter storm to hit Commonwealth on Thursday into Friday
Virginia is seeing delays in this week’s COVID-19 vaccine shipments because of severe winter weather in the Mid-Atlantic region and in the country.
Storms are bringing cold weather and precipitation to the region. The Commonwealth will likely see a delay in the delivery of approximately 106,800 doses, due to distribution channels in the Midwest and elsewhere that are currently shut down.
Due to weather conditions in Virginia, multiple COVID-19 vaccination events scheduled for the next few days have already been postponed. If vaccination events are postponed due to weather or shipment delays, providers will reschedule these events and reach out to individuals with directions about updated appointments.
When the severe weather ends, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) expects shipments to resume as normal.
The delays affect both the COVID-19 vaccine itself and ancillary supplies that come with each order. The vaccine and ancillary supplies are produced in multiple locations throughout the country using several hub connections to deliver vaccines directly to providers. Two percent of Virginia’s providers are seeing delayed ancillary supply kits.
There also could be additional delays for orders VDH places this week due to severe weather that may cause additional distribution issues. Even if the roads are clear in Virginia, the fulfillment of orders and the movement of these vaccine and ancillary supplies may be delayed in other parts of the country.
VDH is distributing guidance to providers on how to determine the status of their vaccine and ancillary supply orders. VDH also is working closely with federal partners to determine the status of vaccine and ancillary kit orders and next steps to mitigate the delay and impact to Virginians.
Read the full news release on the Virginia Department of Health Newsroom.
Feb. 17, 2021 Update - 3 p.m.
Governor Northam Unveils Statewide COVID-19 Vaccine Pre-Registration System
Virginians can use vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682) to pre-register for the vaccine and get clear, updated information
Governor Northam invited Virginians to pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccine online at vaccinate.virginia.gov or by calling 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682). The Commonwealth’s new, centralized system allows individuals to easily pre-register for the free vaccine, confirm that they are on the wait list and learn more about Virginia’s vaccination program.
Virginia’s new website and call center are designed to streamline vaccine pre-registration by bringing disparate processes from local health departments together under one unified system. Virginians who previously pre-registered for the vaccine through their local health district do not need to sign up again. Those who have already pre-registered have been automatically transferred to the centralized system, and their pre-registration status will not be affected. Data migration will continue throughout the week and it may take several days for everyone to appear in the new system.
Virginia is also launching a new call center for those who prefer to pre-register by phone. The call center is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is staffed by 750 live operators who can answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and help people get pre-registered. The call center has English- and Spanish-speaking agents, as well as a call-back service in more than 100 other languages. TTY service is available to assist people who are deaf or hard of hearing. If wait times are long, Virginians can choose to get a call back and avoid having to stay on hold. Call volume is expected to be very high during the first week of operation.
To complete your pre-registration, you will be asked to provide some basic information to determine your eligibility. You will not be asked for your social security number or your immigration status. Anyone who pre-registers will receive a pre-registration confirmation and a reference code that can be used to verify that you are still on the wait list. Individuals can also specify whether they prefer to be contacted by phone, text or email.
Pre-registration gives Virginians the opportunity to get updates about vaccine availability and to make an appointment when vaccine supply allows—it does not provide immediate access to a vaccine. When you become eligible, you will receive instructions from your local health department on how to schedule an appointment.
More than 12 percent of Virginia’s population has now received at least one dose of the vaccine. Across the country, demand for the COVID-19 vaccine currently far exceeds supply, and it is expected to take several months to reach all individuals who want to be vaccinated. The Commonwealth is prioritizing individuals who are most at risk of contracting COVID-19 and those who work in certain critical industries, based on public health guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Virginians who qualify for Groups 1A and 1B are currently eligible for vaccinations. This includes health care personnel, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, people age 65 and older, frontline essential workers, those living and working in homeless shelters and correctional facilities, and individuals with underlying medical conditions or disabilities that increase their risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
For the latest information on COVID-19 vaccinations in Virginia, visit the VDH COVID-19 Vaccination Response webpage.
Read the full news release on the Virginia Governor Newsroom.
Feb. 16, 2021 Update - 12:30 p.m.
Governor Northam Announces $524 Million in New Funding for Virginia Rent Relief Program
Federal stimulus funds available to help landlords and tenants impacted by COVID-19 pandemic
Governor Ralph Northam announced $524 million in new federal funding to help keep Virginia families in their homes amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP) is funded through the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program included in the recent federal stimulus package and will assist households and landlords with rent payments to avoid eviction. Governor Northam made the announcement at Gilliam Place Apartments, which is owned by the nonprofit organization Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing.
Virginia is immediately putting $160 million into the RRP to increase housing stability across the Commonwealth and will make additional funding available based upon need. The program will be administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
In June 2020, Virginia was one of the first states in the nation to create a statewide rent and mortgage relief program with federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds. To date, the Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP) has distributed over $83.7 million in 24,294 rent and mortgage payments for households throughout the Commonwealth. Families with children represent the majority of households assisted by the program. Governor Northam and the General Assembly allocated Virginia Housing Trust Funds to continue supporting the program prior to this new federal allocation.
The new ERA funding does not include mortgage relief, so the RMRP that has been operating since June will become the RRP and will no longer accept applications for assistance with mortgage payments. Earlier today, the Biden Administration announced an expansion and extension of federal forbearance and foreclosure relief programs.
In addition, Chesterfield County and Fairfax County will operate their own ERA-funded rent relief programs for their residents. Virginia tenants outside Chesterfield and Fairfax Counties struggling to pay rent are encouraged to reach out to their landlords for the quickest path to rental assistance. To submit a landlord-initiated application, visit virginiahousing.com/rentrelief. Virginia law requires landlords to work with their tenant to apply for this assistance.
Tenants interested in applying should check their eligibility by completing the self-assessment at dhcd.virginia.gov/eligibility or by dialing 2-1-1 from their phones. Tenants may be eligible for rent arrears payments back to April 1, 2020 and up to three months of payments into the future. The total payments may not exceed 15 months of rental assistance per household.
Current state and federal eviction protections through the courts do not prevent rent payments from accumulating. The Commonwealth remains focused on helping eligible households access resources to maintain housing stability during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the future. Additional information on RRP is available at dhcd.virginia.gov/RRP. For additional housing resources, visit StayHomeVirginia.com.
View the video of this announcement.
Read the full news release on the Virginia Governor Newsroom.
Feb. 16, 2021 Update - 11 a.m.
Virginia Launches Central Pre-Registration Website for COVID-19 Vaccine
Vaccinate.Virginia.gov live on Tuesday, Feb. 16; Statewide hotline to launch Wednesday
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has launched a new, centralized website that allows Virginians to easily pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccine. This one-stop-shop website, vaccinate.virginia.gov, allows individuals to pre-register online, check that they are pre-registered and access additional information on Virginia’s vaccination roll-out.
Virginians who have previously pre-registered through their local health district have been automatically imported into the new system and do not need to pre-register again. Data migration is continuing throughout the week and it may take several days for your name to appear in the centralized system. Everyone who has previously registered is still on the list and their status will not be affected.
VDH expects millions of unique visits to the site on Tuesday and IT teams will be addressing back-end components as needed throughout the day. Anyone who cannot get through immediately should try again.
Virginia has vaccinated over 12% of the population with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Demand for the COVID-19 vaccine currently far outstrips supply and it is expected to take several months to reach all who want to be vaccinated. Virginia is prioritizing people who qualify for Phase 1B: people age 65 and older; frontline essential workers; those living and working in homeless shelters, correctional facilities, and migrant labor camps; and individuals with high-risk medical conditions.
Fairfax Health Department Residents
The Fairfax Health Department has opted to maintain their local registration form as one of the few health districts not part of the Virginia state health system. Virginians eligible for vaccination based on living or working in Fairfax County should pre-register for vaccinations on the Fairfax County Health Department website.
Statewide Call Center to Launch Wednesday, Feb. 17
Recognizing that many Virginians are uncomfortable or unable to pre-register online, the Virginia Department of Health will also launch an accompanying hotline number on Wednesday, Feb. 17. Governor Northam will provide additional information about this hotline, in addition to the new online tools, at a press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Federal Retail Pharmacy Program COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments
In addition to the VDH waitlist, other options to receive the COVID-19 vaccine are now becoming available through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, which is currently accessible at CVS and Walgreens locations in Virginia. All Virginians are encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine however possible. Please note that your VDH waitlist information does not transfer to the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program; to schedule an appointment at a CVS or Walgreens location, follow the directions available on the CVS COVID-19 Vaccine page and the Walgreens COVID-19 Vaccine page.
Read the full news release on the Virginia Department of Health Newsroom.
Feb. 12, 2021 Update - 11 a.m.
Virginia Department of Health Prepares for Launch of Statewide Pre-Registration System with Updates to Local Health District Websites
Local pre-registration forms will close at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has directed local health districts to close their vaccination pre-registration forms Friday evening, in preparation to shift to a statewide system next week. During this time, existing waiting lists will be imported to the new system and pre-registration will be temporarily unavailable throughout Virginia. Pre-registration, through the new statewide system, will be available again on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021.
Anyone who has previously filled out a survey or form or signed up for a waitlist to be vaccinated through their local health district, will be automatically imported into the new statewide system. Individuals will maintain their current status in the queue.
The statewide vaccine pre-registration system will provide a unified and comprehensive process for people in Virginia to pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Local pre-registration forms will close at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12. During the weekend, the Commonwealth will de-duplicate, clean and consolidate the data from the local health district systems. In addition, data from the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS) will be used to remove individuals from the pre-registration list who have already been vaccinated.
For more information on COVID-19 in Virginia and the United States, and the Commonwealth’s ongoing efforts in the pandemic, visit the VDH coronavirus webpage and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) coronavirus webpage.
Read the full news release on the Virginia Department of Health Newsroom.
Feb. 11, 2021 Update - 10 a.m.
VDH Chesterfield Health District, Chesterfield County Government to Confirm COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-Registration
Those who have successfully pre-registered will receive email or voice message by Friday, Feb. 19
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Chesterfield Health District announced today that it will confirm the COVID-19 vaccine pre-registration status of those who submitted their information via the state’s When Can I Get Vaccinated tool, the COVID-19 Vaccine Inquiry Google Form or the VDH Chesterfield Health District Call Center (804-318-8207). Chesterfield County Government is assisting the VDH Chesterfield Health District with the management of related data organization.
Those who submitted their pre-registration information for the waitlist will be contacted by VDH in one of two ways:
- By email: On behalf of the VDH Chesterfield Health District, Chesterfield County Government will send a confirmation email to those whose data has been successfully collected. Though it may take weeks or months for VDH to contact individuals on the waitlist to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, those who receive this confirmation email have been successfully added to the COVID-19 vaccination waitlist.
- By phone: Those who submitted information without an email address will receive a pre-recorded phone message from VDH Chesterfield Health District Director Dr. Alexander Samuel. This phone call, sent by Chesterfield County Government on behalf of the VDH Chesterfield Health District, will be left as a voicemail if the call goes unanswered. Though it may take weeks or months for VDH to contact individuals on the waitlist to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, those who receive this confirmation phone message have been successfully added to the COVID-19 vaccination waitlist.
Those who believe they have submitted their information via the When Can I Get Vaccinated tool, the COVID-19 Vaccine Inquiry Google Form or the VDH Chesterfield Health District Call Center (804-318-8207) but do not receive either the email or phone message described above by Friday, Feb. 19, may complete their waitlist pre-registration by visiting vaccinate.virginia.gov.
How to Pre-Register for the COVID-19 Vaccination Waitlist
Those who have not yet submitted their information may pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccination waitlist by:
- Week of Feb. 8, visit vdh.virginia.gov/chesterfield or call 804-318-8207, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Beginning the week of Feb. 15, visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or calling 804-318-8207, which will be redirected to the statewide VDH Call Center, available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Federal Retail Pharmacy Program COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments
In addition to the VDH COVID-19 vaccination waitlist, other options to receive the COVID-19 vaccine are now becoming available through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, which is currently accessible at CVS and Walgreens locations in Virginia. All Virginians are encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine however possible. However, residents should note that their VDH waitlist information does not transfer to the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. To schedule an appointment at a CVS or Walgreens location, follow the directions available on the CVS COVID-19 Vaccine page and the Walgreens COVID-19 Vaccine page.
For more information about COVID-19 in Virginia and VDH’s ongoing vaccination efforts, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus.
Avoiding COVID-19 Vaccination Scams
As COVID-19 vaccination distribution continues nationwide, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is cautioning against a rise in vaccine-related scams. According to the OIG (PDF), some signs of such scams include:
- Being asked to pay out of pocket to get the vaccine
- Being asked to pay to put your name on a vaccine waiting list or receive early access
For additional signs of potential scams as well as how to report suspected COVID-19-related fraud, visit www.oig.hhs.gov/coronavirus.
Read the full news release.
Feb. 10, 2021 Update - 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 16 Planning Commission Meeting to be Held In Person
Residents may submit comments using online form
The Chesterfield Planning Commission will hold its Tuesday, Feb. 16 meeting in person in the Public Meeting Room at 10001 Iron Bridge Road. Measures are being put in place to accommodate public input while still practicing social distancing, as recommended by health officials.
Residents wishing to comment in person will be required to wear a face covering and pass a simple health screening before entering the building. In order to maintain the 6-foot social distance requirement, seating will be extremely limited; however, TV monitors will be set up outside the Public Meeting Room.
People are encouraged to use the online public comment form to provide comment on public hearings regarding zoning cases. Those wishing to comment must submit a new form for each public hearing they want to comment on. Only one comment per person per public hearing will be accepted. The online form can also be used to comment on unscheduled matters. In addition to the form, comments can also be received by emailing Planning or by calling 804-748-1125.
The Planning Commission will accept all public comments (via online form, telephone message and email) until 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 15 to ensure the comments are provided to the Planning Commission for their consideration prior to the 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
View agenda, staff reports and presentations for the Tuesday, Feb. 16 Planning Commission meeting.
The Chesterfield Planning Commission meeting will be livestreamed on WCCT Chesterfield Community Television, including Comcast channel 98 and Verizon channel 28, and on the Chesterfield County YouTube.
For additional Planning information, visit the Planning Department webpage.
Read the full news release.
Feb. 9, 2021 Update - 6:45 p.m.
Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Launches COVIDWISE Express as Additional Tool to Boost Exposure Notifications
New additional platform informs iPhone users of potential exposure to COVID-19 without having to download an app
Virginia is making it even easier for people to be notified of potential exposures to COVID-19. Last week, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) launched COVIDWISE Express, a new app-less exposure notifications technology for iPhone users in Virginia who do not already have the COVIDWISE app installed. Anonymously sending and receiving exposure notifications has never been easier. Since launching, COVIDWISE Express already has more than 504,000 users in Virginia.
COVIDWISE Express, which is available in both English and Spanish, will work solely on iPhones that have not installed COVIDWISE. When an iPhone user enables Exposure Logging on their smartphone, their device will automatically use the app-less experience, if the user hasn’t already downloaded COVIDWISE. The Express version of COVIDWISE works by communicating with a test verification server and the national key server at specific times, all while protecting the user’s privacy and location data. Android users, and iPhone users who already have the app, will continue to use COVIDWISE.
COVIDWISE launched on Aug. 5, 2020 and has surpassed 994,000 downloads, making it one of the two most downloaded exposure notification apps in the United States. The free app, which is available through the App Store and the Google Play Store, alerts users if they have been in close contact with an individual who anonymously reported their positive COVID-19 test result.
On Dec. 10, 2020, COVIDWISE began using the Association of Public Health Laboratories’ National Key Server, which allows COVIDWISE to work across D.C. and 19 states that have similar exposure notifications systems. This helps to ensure users receive exposure notifications, if exposed to persons from a participating jurisdiction.
VDH remains steadfastly committed to COVIDWISE privacy protections and continued adoption and widespread use of exposure notifications as a tool to support the public’s health and reduce the spread of the virus.
Learn more about COVIDWISE options or to download the app.
Read the full news release on the Virginia Department of Health Newsroom.
Feb. 9, 2021 Update - 1 p.m.
Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Announces Roll Out of Vaccination Program at CVS Pharmacy
Walk-in vaccinations without an appointment will not be provided.
CVS Pharmacy has begun registering Virginians age 65 and older who are within the Phase 1b eligibility guidelines for vaccinations as part of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination. As of today, eligible individuals can register at the CVS COVID-19 Vaccine webpage. CVS will begin administering vaccinations on Friday, February 12.
VDH worked closely with CVS over the last week to ensure that the CVS system follows Virginia’s priority guidelines and to provide an advance opportunity for eligible individuals already registered on VDH waiting lists. However, due to technological limitations with their national appointment system, CVS is unable to reserve appointments for pre-registered individuals. Virginia will continue to work towards a solution in partnership with other participating states and the federal government.
The federal program will supplement existing vaccination programs by providing 26,000 more vaccines to Virginians. CVS is the first of Virginia’s pharmacy partners in the federal pharmacy partnership to move forward with vaccinations. More pharmacies and more locations are expected to start vaccinating patients in the future.
The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination is a public-private partnership between pharmacy companies and the federal government. Pharmacy companies receive vaccines directly from the federal government through the partnership program. Initially, the federal government asked states to limit distribution to one pharmacy chain partner. CVS Health is the initial pharmacy partner for the program in Virginia.
The appointment for the second vaccination will be made when the first vaccination appointment is scheduled. Those without online access can contact CVS Customer Service at 800-746-7287. Walk-in vaccinations without an appointment will not be provided.
Read the full news release on the Virginia Department of Health Newsroom.
Feb. 5, 2021 Update - Noon
Virtual Community Conversation with VDH Chesterfield Health District Director on Thursday, Feb. 11
Online form available on Monday, Feb. 8 to submit questions for Dr. Samuel
Join VDH Chesterfield Health District Director Dr. Alexander Samuel on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m. for a virtual Community Conversation to discuss the COVID-19 vaccination efforts across the county and the state.
View the Community Conversation with Dr. Samuel via:
- Facebook Live on the Chesterfield County Facebook page (@ChesterfieldVA)
- On the Chesterfield County YouTube Channel
- On Comcast Channel 98 or Verizon Channel 28
Questions for Dr. Samuel about the COVID-19 vaccine can be submitted via an online form which will be available starting Monday, Feb. 8 on the COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Information page.
Citizens can also submit questions via Facebook Live during the event.
View the calendar event.
Read the full news release.
Feb. 5, 2021 Update - 11:30 a.m.
Governor Northam Calls on School Divisions to Safely Return Students to Classrooms Statewide
Sets expectation: provide in-person options by March 15 in accordance with health guidance, expand summer learning
Governor Ralph Northam calls on all K-12 school divisions in the Commonwealth to make in-person learning options available by Monday, March 15, 2021 in accordance with the health guidance the Northam Administration put forward in January and new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Recognizing significant learning losses over the past year, Governor Northam also encouraged school divisions to offer classroom instruction during the summer months for those who choose.
Governor Northam joined Secretary of Education Atif Qarni, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. James Lane and State Health Commissioner Dr. Norm Oliver, MD, MA in applauding educators for their dedication to navigating a challenging and uncertain year, and highlighting data that show in-person learning is safe with proper mitigation measures in place. The governor, along with top state education and public health officials, communicated this goal to school superintendents on a call this morning. View the letter (PDF).
On Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, State Superintendent for Public Instruction Dr. James Lane and State Health Commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver, released interim guidance for safely re-opening PreK-12 schools (PDF) in a letter to school superintendents and local health directors (PDF). This incorporated and replaced the phased guidance for Virginia schools and interim guidance for mitigation measures in K-12 settings previously issued by the Commonwealth prioritizes the safe return to in-person learning. On Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, the Biden Administration also issued an executive order to support the safe reopening of schools.
Governor Northam also announced that his Administration will be working to support local decisions around expanding summer learning opportunities. While the Commonwealth is not mandating extended learning time during the summer, the Northam Administration is in the process of determining additional resources to support this as an option for school divisions to offer.
Growing evidence, including a new CDC study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, shows that with proper health and safety protocols, the risk of exposure to and transmission of COVID-19 is low in school settings. Additional data confirms that most children infected with COVID-19 have mild symptoms or have no symptoms at all.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) recommends schools use the CDC Indicators for Dynamic School Decision-Making jointly with the Interim Guidance for K-12 School Reopening document to inform decisions about school operations with regard to COVID-19. VDH also maintains a school metrics dashboard, which compiles a variety of data sources, providing a visualization of COVID-19 community transmission by region and data trends in specific communities to guide local and state governments and school officials in determining whether additional mitigation measures are appropriate.
In 2020, Governor Northam directed $492 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to public schools and PreK-12 state-level education initiatives, with all 132 school divisions receiving funds. This included an allocation of $220 million in October, $66.8 million through the federal Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund in June, and $238.6 million (DOCX) from the Elementary and Secondary School Education Relief (ESSER) Fund for K-12 activities in May. Funding has supported COVID-19 preparedness and response measures for the 2020–2021 school year, including testing supplies, personal protective equipment, sanitization and technology for distance learning.
Read the full news release on the Virginia Governor Newsroom.
Feb. 2, 2021 Update - 5:30 p.m.
Chesterfield County Public Schools Curbside Meals Distribution Update
Curbside meals service distribution now Tuesdays and Thursdays only
Chesterfield County Public Schools’ (CCPS) Food and Nutrition Services team has updated the meals distribution schedule in order to best serve families as they begin to transition back to in-person learning five days a week. While free meals will be available to students learning in person, free meals will continue to be available to those families participating in the virtual learning environment.Curbside meals service distribution is now on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.
All Chesterfield County youth ages 18 and under, regardless of household income, are eligible to receive free school meals through Friday, June 18, 2021. Free meals for children ages 18 and under will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information on pick-up times, dates and locations, read the full news release on the CCPS Featured News webpage.