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This morning the Virginia Department of Health reports 204,634 total confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 3,806 total deaths related to the virus in the Commonwealth.

The seven-day positivity rate, PCR only, for the Commonwealth is 7.3%.

Norfolk is credited with 5,965 total cases and 87 deaths with a 6.5% seven-day positivity rate, PCR only.

According to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, 1,337 residents in Virginia are currently hospitalized due to the virus. Over 22,300 confirmed COVID-19 patients have been hospitalized and discharged.

New COVID-19 Restrictions

Last week Governor Ralph Northam enacted new COVID-19 restrictions due to the surges of cases across the country and Virginia.

The new restrictions took effect at 12:01 am Monday, November 16.  

The new restrictions include:

• Reduction in public and private social gatherings (indoor and outdoor) from 250 to 25.
• The mask mandate will now include ages 5 and up. (It was previously ages 10 and up.)
• Essential retail such as grocery stores and pharmacies will now have an enforceable penalty through the Virginia Department of Health. It will be a class 1 misdemeanor. (The penalty was previously only applied to nonessential retail.)
• Alcohol sales must stop at 10 pm, and bars and restaurants must close by midnight.

“COVID-19 is surging across the country, and while cases are not rising in Virginia as rapidly as in some other states, I do not intend to wait until they are. We are acting now to prevent this health crisis from getting worse,” Governor Northam said in a press release last Friday.

For more information on the new restrictions, view this week's Incident Action Plan.

Along with the new restrictions, Northam is also urging everyone to rethink how their Thanksgiving will look this year. He recommends having smaller groups, where social distancing can be accomplished, or even having everyone eat their Thanksgiving dinner outdoors if possible.

For more tips on how to make your Thanksgiving holiday safer, check out the CDC Thanksgiving Celebration Guidelines.

Don’t forget its Flu season. The CDC and VDH both recommend receiving a flu vaccination. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the city will not have on-site flu shot clinics this year for city employees. We encourage all employees to get a flu shot this season from their primary care physician or any participating pharmacy. Click here to find flu vaccine locations.

Norfolk City Hall is now open to the public by appointment only. To protect the health and safety of city employees and the public, walk-ins will not be permitted.  Appointments must be made in advance to allow city employees time to clean and sanitize areas between visits.  Virtual and phone meetings will remain the preferred method to meet the needs of residents. In-person appointments will be reserved for requests that cannot be handled over the phone, email, or virtually. Click here for more info.  

To make an appointment, visitors should contact a specific department in advance.  Contact information for city departments is located on the website, www.norfolk.gov.

DMV Select located in City Hall is not open.  Visit the DMV website to schedule an appointment at a full-service DMV location. 

Are you ready to give the gift of life? On November 21, from 10 am to 3 pm, at the Scope Exhibition Hall, you can be an American Red Cross Hero by donating blood to help save lives. Click here to reserve your time slot.  

Assistance Available for People with Disabilities for COVID-19 Related Needs. The Endependence Center, Inc. (ECI) continues to do wonderful things for people with disabilities. If you have not heard of ECI, they are a private nonprofit disability advocacy organization serving Southside Hampton Roads. People of all ages with significant disabilities can participate in advocacy, peer mentoring, independent living skills training, transition from facilities and schools, and information and referral activities.

If you, or you know of anyone who meets the following criteria, you/they might be eligible for assistance:

• Person with a significant disability
• Need for assistance is because of COVID-19
• No other source to pay for needed assistance

Funding is available to assist people with significant disabilities who have a need due to COVID-19. Depending on the person’s needs and circumstances, the Endependence Center may be able to provide the following:

• Personal protective equipment including face masks and gloves
• Household cleaning supplies such as wipes and disinfectant spray
• Utility payments
• Rent or mortgage assistance
• Life-sustaining food
• Electronic devices for people who need to receive medical services through telehealth.
• For people with significant disabilities who are homeless:
  • Household items needed to set up a household;
  • Rental and utility security deposits;
  • First two month’s rent; and
  • Motel lodging for people who are homeless and in the process of securing housing.

For more information, visit ECI or call Rena Lewis at 757-351-1578.

Lastly, today's high temperature will be 63s, and tomorrow will hover around 60. Wednesday will be chilly, with highs in the lower 40s. Thursday’s temps will be in the upper 50s, and then, just in time for the weekend, temps will rise to the upper 60s for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

Although temps will be a bit cooler this week, we are in store for lots of sunshine. 

Be safe and have a great week, everyone. 

Daniel 

Daniel Hudson, Deputy EM Coordinator
 Norfolk Emergency Preparedness & Response
EOC-Plans@norfolk.gov