Good morning, RVA! It's 41 °F, and the rain has moved on outta here. Today expect sunshine at some point and temperatures right around 60 °F. This might be our coolest day for a while.
Water cooler
As of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports 391 positive cases of the coronavirus in the Commonwealth, and nine people in Virginia have died as a result of the virus. VDH reports 35 cases in and around Richmond (Chesterfield: 11, Henrico: 20, and Richmond: 13). This is the biggest single-day increase in reported positive cases so far, and it's important to remember just that: These are folks that have been tested and have had those test results reported by VDH. "391" should not be taken as a direct measure of the amount of COVID-19 cases in Virginia! There are, most likely, many, many people who are not in high-risk groups and weren't tested or simply never developed major symptoms (an especially sneaky part of this particular virus that aids in transmission). When looking at these numbers each day, please keep in mind that both reported positive cases and deaths are only indirect measure of the extend of the virus in Virginia. For comparison: Georgia has 1,387 reported cases and 47 deaths, while Maryland has 423 reported cases and four deaths.
The Richmond Police Department has released their guidelines for dealing with folks violating the Governor's new rules on social distancing. If you need a refresher on those rules, you can find it here, but, basically, no gatherings over 10 people and a bunch of non-essential businesses need to close as of last night. First: Even if you think you're being helpful, do not call 911 if you see a business out of compliance or a gaggle of springbreakers at Texas Beach with their PBRs. Please use RPD's non-emergency number instead (804.646.5100). To handle noncompliant businesses, springbreakers, or corona truthers, the RPD will first give a warning to the responsible parties, then issue a Class 1 misdemeanor, and then "contact supervision for assistance and proceed with criminal charges, if appropriate." Maybe this is naive, but I'll be surprised if anyone is actually charged with a misdemeanor for violating the Governor's executive order.
I tried to find more info on this, but failed. RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras says the school district will use "a combination of reallocated money from our budget and RVA philanthropy" to buy 10,000 computers for students who need them? He says we'll have more details soon, so I guess I'll just have to wait!
Michael Martz at the Richmond Times-Dispatch has an update on a rehabilitation center in Henrico that accounts for three of Henrico's 20 reported COVID-19 deaths. I think this piece is worth reading. While this is the most serious outbreak in our region that I'm aware of, the folks involved from the County, the Richmond/Henrico Health District, and the regional hospitals do sound like they're taking the situation very seriously. The precautions and logistics and preparations described by Martz make me feel a bit of optimism—a strange and unfamiliar feeling!
Ali Rockett, also at the RTD, writes through the Governor's press briefing yesterday (2:00 PM daily!), and says that state parks are closed at night and that Chesterfield will "begin removing the rims from basketball courts; nets from tennis, pickleball, and volleyball courts; and soccer and lacrosse goals throughout the county’s park system." I rode my bike through Bryan Park the other day and all of the soccer fields were closed. This is serious business, people! Playing team sports is the opposite of social distancing!
Yo, this is messed up. From Roberto Roldan at VPM: "Three employees told VPM they were fired from Richmond bowling alley River City Roll because they declined to work a crowded event two weekends ago...The company asked employees to sign a liability waiver, which VPM obtained, to work the St. Patrick’s Day event. It said 'I have been made aware of any and all health concerns in regards to Coronavirus (COVID-19). I understand my employer, River City Roll, is not to be held liable if I contract COVID-19.' Some Employees who did not sign the waiver and didn’t show up to work were fired."
The federal stimulus bill passed the Senate last night, and will head to the House for a vote on Friday at 9:00 AM. Here's one of the better explainers I've found of what's in the bill, from @yfreemark (with a transportation slant).
The Commonwealth Institute has put together a good post about some of the newly-created resources for folks impacted by the coronavirus. Unlike the federal stimulus check which should just show up in the mail (for most documented folks who are In The System, at least), a lot of these new or expanded programs require folks to sign up, apply, or take some sort of action. If you know anyone who could take advantage, please make sure they do! And maybe help them with the forms—via the telephone, of course.
BREAKING NEWS FROM THE RVA OSPREY CAM: Somehow the birds got ahold of a Kroger employee's apron and have incorporated it into their nest. Marqi, if you're looking for your apron and name tag, I have some bad news for you.
This morning's longread
Grieving the Losses of Coronavirus
This piece in the NYT resonated with me, especially the idea that we're all grieving, and some of us are grieving not over the loss of life or loved ones but over the loss of normalcy.
There’s a term to describe the kind of loss many of us are experiencing: ambiguous grief. In ambiguous grief, there’s a murkiness to the loss. A typical example could be a person whose spouse has dementia: you’re still married but your spouse no longer recognizes you. (Your partner is alive but “not there.”) Another might be the inability to get pregnant. (You’re grieving the loss of a child you haven’t yet had.) With Covid-19, on top of the tangible losses, there’s the uncertainty about how long this will last and what will happen next that leaves us mourning our current losses as well as ones we haven’t experienced yet. (No Easter, no prom, and what if this means we can’t go on summer vacation?)
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