Come Home to Norfolk

Team-

This afternoon the Virginia Department of Health reports 666,986 total confirmed, and probable cases of COVID-19 and 10,902 total deaths related to the virus in the Commonwealth.

The seven-day positivity rate, PCR only, for the Commonwealth is 4.3%.

Norfolk is credited with 17,566 total cases and 256 deaths with an 5.7% seven-day positivity rate, PCR only.

According to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, 751 residents in Virginia are currently hospitalized due to the virus. Over 55,110 confirmed COVID-19 patients have been hospitalized and discharged.

VDH reports that 3,986,885 people in Virginia have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. Over 2,955,860 people have been fully vaccinated.

The Commonwealth has received 8,373,645 doses of vaccine and are administering just over 58,920 doses a day.

To date in Norfolk, 127,643 people have received the vaccine and 55,416 people are fully vaccinated.

For daily vaccine summaries and totals, visit the VDH dashboard.

FEMA Military Circle Mall Clinic: As vaccination opportunities expand in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the FEMA-supported Military Circle Mall Community Vaccination Center, in partnership with Virginia Department of Health, will continue to provide opportunities for residents to receive their first doses of Pfizer.

Once residents receive their first dose, VDH will schedule and administer second doses in three weeks (or 21 days) later.

The Military Circle Mall Community Vaccination Center is a walk-in clinic, no appointments are required, and it is open seven days a week, 9:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.

Walk-ins are welcome, but those interested, can book an appointment ahead of time at https://www.norfolk.gov/covid19vaccine.

Those interested in getting their vaccine must bring a valid ID or any document that provides proof of name.

Residents that come to Military Circle Mall will have their choice of vaccine through May 22:

Vaccines Available at Military Circle Mall (9 a.m. - 7 p.m.)

• Single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine (over the age of 18)
• 1st Doses of Pfizer (over the age of 16)
  • Individuals who are 16- 17 will need to have a parent or guardian with them at the vaccination site to receive the vaccine.
• 2nd Doses of Pfizer (over the age of 16)
  • Residents can receive their second dose of Pfizer regardless of where the 1st dose was administered. 2nd doses should be administered 3 weeks (21 days) after the 1st dose.

For information on all available clinics visit https://vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 1-877-829-4682.  

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

Updated COVID Restrictions: Don’t forget, Governor Northam’s updated Executive Order Seventy-Two, Sixth Amendment, goes into effect this Saturday, May 15, 2021.

The updated Executive Order will include:

• Social gatherings: The maximum number of individuals permitted in a social gathering will increase to 100 people for indoor settings and 250 people for outdoor settings. Social gatherings are currently limited to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. 
• Entertainment venues: Indoor entertainment and public amusement venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity or 1,000 people, up from 30 percent capacity or 500 people. Outdoor venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity—up from 30 percent—with no specific cap on the number of attendees. 

• Recreational sporting events: The number of spectators allowed at indoor recreational sporting events will increase from 100 to 250 spectators or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less. Outdoor recreational sporting events will increase from 500 to 1,000 people or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less. 
• Alcohol sales: Restaurants may return to selling alcohol after midnight, and dining room closures will no longer be required between midnight and 5:00 a.m.

The full text of Sixth Amended Executive Order Seventy-Two and Order of Public Health Emergency Nine is available here. Updated guidelines for specific sectors can be found here. 

Also, last week, Governor Northam announced that he’s confident both social distancing requirements and capacity limitations can be lifted on June 15. I will provide more information on this when it becomes available.

Transportation update: We have great news to share! The City of Norfolk has partnered with Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) to offer free bus passes to citizens, who are transit-dependent, to use to get COVID vaccinations.

Each resident, age 16 and older, is eligible to receive two, one day, bus passes for travel to and from their first and second shots at any vaccine clinic in Hampton Roads.

To request a free one-day buss pass, visit: https://www.norfolk.gov/vaxbuspass

After completing a request, we will send the free bus passes in the standard USPS mail.

Are you ready to give the gift of life? There are plenty of opportunities for you to give blood this month. Be an American Red Cross Hero by donating blood to help save lives. Click here to view all blood donation opportunities in Norfolk.  If you don’t live in Norfolk, don’t worry, you can search by city and find blood drives near you.

Be safe and have a great week, everyone. 

Daniel 

Daniel Hudson, Deputy EM Coordinator

Norfolk Emergency Preparedness & Response

EOC-Plans@norfolk.gov