Good morning, RVA! It's 42 °F, and highs today will stay in the 50s. We've got a bit of rain to get through this morning, but, after that, things look pretty nice all the way to next week.
Water cooler
As of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports 1,250 positive cases of the coronavirus in the Commonwealth, and 27 people in Virginia have died as a result of the virus. VDH reports 131 cases in and around Richmond (Chesterfield: 43, Henrico: 62, and Richmond: 26). Locally, the City reported the first two deaths cause by COVID-19, two men in their 70s that may have both picked up the virus while working in New Jersey. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that Chesterfield also saw their first COVID-19 death.
City Council has scheduled a special meeting tomorrow (PDF), April 2nd at 3:30 PM, to pass legislation that'll let them start meeting and working remotely. This is great news and the first, much-needed step in getting our legislative body back up and running so that they can start working through the budget and whatever emergency legislation seems appropriate.
The furloughs and layoffs have started. According to Jonathan Spiers at Richmond BizSense, Chesterfield County "will furlough more than 500 part-time and full-time employees effective this Saturday, as part of its efforts to weather the financial impacts of COVID-19." County Manager Joe Casey says 15 of those 500 are full-time jobs, but it sounds like lots of those positions came with benefits. It's a really, really bad time to lose benefits. Bon Secours announced that "associates who are not directly supporting COVID-19 response activities will be placed on furlough, a temporary layoff from work." The WaPo says that's "700 total full-time equivalents across seven states and 12 markets." However, it's unclear to me how many of those are in the Richmond region. Also, the owners of the RTD itself will require its employees to "either take a pay reduction or furlough time off that is the equivalent to two weeks of salary." Government, healthcare, and journalism: Three industries in which we need more workers during This Most Unusual time, not fewer.
OK, mask update! The Washington Post says they've got memos from the CDC to the White House saying "simple cloth masks that cover the mouth and nose can prevent virus transmission from such individuals when they are out buying groceries or seeking medical care." Again, remember the Czech philosophy on masks: "My mask protects you; your mask protects me." I haven't tried it yet, but here are some instructions on making a DIY no-sew mask with a handkerchief and two hair ties.
Related mask update! Yesterday, I asked for folks to help connect GRTC with a reliable source of masks for their bus operators who are out there every day making sure essential workers get to essential jobs. Lots of folks wrote in, and it seems like the RVA Masks 4 Health Facebook group (augh Facebook) is the first and best place to both submit a need for masks and to help out with making masks. There are a ton of resource in there, and I am kind of amazed at the level of organization. If you'd like to help, you can do so by delivering masks, donating materials for masks, or, of course, sewing masks. Thanks to everyone involved in this project and to everyone who helped get GRTC in the queue for masks that'll help their bus operators feel safer while performing their critical jobs! Bill Lohmann at the RTD has a nice profile on some of the folks behind RVA Masks 4 Health.
An ominous reminder from ChildSavers: Domestic violence counselors across the state have started to prepare for an uptick in cases as families stay at home due to the coronavirus. ChildSavers has a 24/7 immediate response hotline available for mental health and trauma crises involving children (804.305.2420), and it's worth putting this number in your phone to have whenever you, or someone you know, may need it.
From /r/rva: "Ellwood's has swapped out their dining section for an expanded toilet paper aisle." Amazing.
This morning's longread
Life and Death on El Capitan
While morbid, this story about two pals climbing El Capitan was a nice distraction. I have no desire to be a person who climbs rocks, but it seems like a very primal hobby and I'm glad folks are out there doing it.
Tim grinned as he wiped the sweat off his pale forehead and into his blond hair. He was lean but solidly built, with wide features, dense muscles, and blue eyes that squinted in the sun. “That’s not really how it works, love,” he said teasingly. “You don’t just meet someone and do one pitch with him over and over again and say, ‘Hey, let’s go do El Cap.’” JJ insisted that Tim at least ask for Jason’s contact info, which he sheepishly did before they got in their cars and drove back to their respective lives. When Tim still hadn’t connected with Jason after a few months, JJ stepped in again. “Don’t let this guy get away.” Tim reached out, and the men made plans to meet in Yosemite.
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