La Ciudad de Richmond reporta hoy el primer caso positivo de uno de sus empleados con COVID-19.

La afectada es una oficial del Departamento de Policía de Richmond (RPD, por sus iniciales en inglés), la cual viajó a Nueva York antes del inicio de los síntomas.

De acuerdo al Distrito de Salud de la Ciudad de Richmond (RHCD, por sus iniciales en inglés), la oficial, quien tiene alrededor de 40 años de edad, está en su casa aislada en condición estable. Otro compañero que había estado en contacto cercano con la oficial, está bajo cuarentena voluntaria y está monitoreando su salud y vigilando la aparición de algún síntoma.

Una investigación preliminar hecha por la policía y el distrito de salud, no determinó que hubiera un potencial de contacto cercano con los residentes de la ciudad en el período posterior a su viaje. Sin embargo, las autoridades están revisando e investigando cualquier otro contacto cercano adicional que la oficial haya tenido durante sus funciones regulares.

“Mi primera preocupación es por ella y su familia y la familia extendida que son sus compañeros de trabajo,” dijo el jefe de policía William Smith. “Hemos tomado las medidas necesarias para limitar la exposición de nuestro personal y de la comunidad a la que servimos. Es extremadamente importante que todos continuemos haciendo nuestra tarea para controlar la difusión del virus al seguir los protocolos de protección recomendados”, agregó.

“Ya que hemos visto una propagación significativa del virus en la comunidad, no nos sorprende tener la primera aparición documentada del virus en el personal del gobierno”, dijo el Dr. Danny Avula, Director del Distrito de Salud de la Ciudad de Richmond, el cual sirve a la ciudad de Richmond y al condado de Henrico. “Continuamos animando a los miembros de nuestra comunidad a tomar todas las precauciones necesarias para limitar su exposición al COVID-19 y mitigar su impacto en los residentes de la región”, añadió.

“Aprecio verdaderamente el trabajo que el personal de emergencias hace en el frente de batalla para mantener segura a nuestra comunidad durante estos tiempos inciertos,” dijo el alcalde Levar Stoney. “Todos debemos hacer nuestra parte también. Estaremos más seguros y fuertes en casa”, agregó.

Small Business Association Disaster Loans (EIDL) Webinar

Monday, March 23, 20202:00 - 2:45 pm AND5:00 - 5:45 pm

The Virginia SBDC network is hosting a webinar for their partners to review the application process for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), available for Virginia small businesses and non-profits. 

Click here to attend the first Webinar (2 pm): https://bit.ly/3dqOVCS
Meeting ID: 606-202-441
Phone - 646 558 8656 

Click here to attend the second Webinar (5 pm): https://bit.ly/39akiyf
Meeting ID: 812-851-176
Phone - 646 558 8656 

Virginia SBDC advisors are prepared to assist your businesses during this emergency. They are operating remotely and available by phone, email and web conferencing. Please visit their website for details.

https://www.virginiasbdc.org/

Richmond is #saferandstrongerathome

Governor directs some non-essential businesses to close, closes schools for remainder of school year

According to the Governor’s press briefing today, gatherings of 10 or more people are banned. All recreation and entertainment venues must close. This includes bowling alleys, movie theaters and gyms. 

Personal care services that cannot adhere to social distancing measure, such a barber shops, spas and salons, should close. 

Restaurants may remain open for carry out, delivery, and curbside services only. Non-essential brick-and-mortar stores can remain open if they comply with the Governor’s recommendation of serving no more than 10 customers at once. 

Essential services will remain open but must also enforce social distancing and practice hygienic precautions and increased sanitizing procedures. This includes grocery stores, medical offices, pharmacies, and businesses in that supply chain.

If you have questions about the governor’s announcement, watch the press briefing here or read the full press release here.

Supporting Small Businesses and Employees

The City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review posted its available services throughout the closure on its webpage. 

Read what’s available here.

Field inspections will resume for all unoccupied new commercial and residential construction projects, with priority going to inspections pertaining to life safety, habitability concerns, and essential facilities. 

The city recently began a third-party option for inspections and plan reviews. This is still available to customers and may be a useful option if the city closure due to COVID-19 lengthens. 

The Office of Community Wealth Building is going virtual – join them for online workforce training sessions. 

Click here to access the schedule. Classes include: I’m Unemployed Because of COVID-19 – Now What?, Career Connect, and Secure the Bag: How to Get a MYA Summer Job.

The City of Richmond today is reporting its first known case of an employee testing positive for COVID-19.

The affected employee is a female officer in the Richmond Police Department, who traveled to New York before the onset of her illness.

According to the Richmond City Health District, the officer, who is in her 40s, is now at home in isolation and is in stable condition.

Another co-worker who had been in close contact with the officer is under self-quarantine and is self-monitoring for symptoms.

Preliminary investigation by RCHD and RPD has not determined any potential for close contact with Richmond residents during this time period. However, RCHD and the RPD are reviewing and investigating any possible additional close contacts the officer may have had during the performance of her duties. 

“My first concern is for her and her family and the extended family of her co-workers,” said Police Chief William Smith. “We have taken precautions to limit exposure to our staff and to the community we serve. It is extremely important that we all continue to do our part in controlling the spread of the virus through the recommended protocols.”
  
“Because we are seeing significant community spread it is not surprising to have a documented occurrence in the government workforce,” said Dr. Danny Avula, Director of the Richmond City Health District, which serves the City of Richmond and Henrico County. “We continue to encourage members of our community to take every precaution to limit their potential exposure to COVID-19 to mitigate its impact on the residents of our region.”

“I truly appreciate the work that first responders do on the frontlines to keep our community safe during these uncertain times,” said Mayor Levar M. Stoney. “We must do our part as well. We are safer and stronger at home.”  

• WHAT : Richmond, Virginia - The Honorable Reva M. Trammell, Councilmember, Richmond City Council, Richmond Southside 8th Voter District, will hold a meeting for the Richmond Southside 8th Voter District. The planned agenda and special guests include:
  • AGENDA/SPECIAL GUESTS
    • Calvin Farr, Director, Richmond Department of Public Utilities
    • Michelle Tarry, Customer Account Investigator, Richmond Department of Public Utilities
    • Chip Decker, Chief Executive Officer, Richmond Ambulance Authority
    • Lenora Reid, Interim Richmond Chief Administrative Officer, City of Richmond
    • Richmond Police Department Officers, Richmond Department of Fire and Emergency Services Firefighters, Commonwealth of Virginia - Richmond Office of the Sheriff staff, and Richmond Ambulance Authority personn
• WHEN : Thursday, December 12, 2019, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

• WHERE: Satellite Restaurant & Lounge, 4000 Jefferson Davis Highway, Richmond, Virgini

• CONTACT:For more information, please contact: Councilmember Reva Trammell, at 804.240.5050 (mobile); or, 804.233.7382 (home), or via email at reva.trammell@richmondgov.com

• Councilmember Trammell holds individual meetings that include her goals and accomplishments; topical agendas; and, special guests. She invites all Richmond Southside 8th Voter District residents to attend. Free refreshments are typically served. Meeting dates, times, locations, agendas, and special guests are subject to change.