& a message from Scott. Wednesday, April 8th 2020 A message from Scott... A few days ago, I stood in my backyard and watched that great white beacon of hope slowly pull out of the Chesapeake Bay and make its way to support the city of New York. People stopped what they were doing to get a gaze, some watched through binoculars. There is doubt many people around the world have welcomed a similar site with awe ... as the USNS Comfort came calling, bringing with it thousands of sailors to save lives from these shores of Hampton Roads. There could be no greater symbol stating that - Virginians, New Yorkers, all Americans - we are in this fight against an invisible foe, and we are in it together. That through these hard times we will endure, as we and those who have come before us have endured before. We will be revived as a nation, and we will prosper once more. We were slow to get started. Local, state, and federal agencies and leaders could have used the time bought from the President’s travel ban a bit more wisely. But hindsight is 20/20 - no politician has the high ground here. Mistakes and lack of clarity of this threat did not fall down party lines. Even academics and epidemiological experts, just a few weeks ago, were all over the map without a firm consensus on best practices. China’s misinformation to the World Health Organization, who then pushed it out as fact - cost the world precious response time. And despite the dangers of this virus becoming clear late last year in China, the WHO (using information out of Bejing), tweeted in mid-January that there was no evidence of human-to-human spread by this virus. Of course, that could not be further from the truth. This unfortunate reality & this this unpredictable virus has exposed some of our own weaknesses, like supply chain problems and the slowness to coordinate between all levels of government. We must learn from our mistakes, but now is not the time for a partisan panel. Now is the time to protect the health of our people, the health of our economy, and the health or our country. Historically, our nation has started slow during national crisis. But eventually, this sleeping giant is awoken. One of the things about America is that our people come together - our private sector steps up to help the public and their adaptability, ingenuity, and determination always save the day. Just consider some examples here locally... London Bridge Trading Company in Virginia Beach - where talented tactical equipment sewers quickly shifted their efforts to instead making much-needed masks for our healthcare personnel 757 Makerspace group on Facebook - where folks have come together as a community group to share ideas and use their 3D printers to produce protective gear Tidewater Community College - where they are sending life-saving equipment to support local hospitals Emma, a Virginia Beach teen from Kellam High School - who used her prom and spring break money to shop for her elderly neighbors Make no mistake about it, there are dark days ahead and many issues that we will have to deal with as a people. We are all affected by this national crisis. Yes, I understand we are and will be affected, unevenly, but that is true in all parts of life. The majority of us will take a hit to our wealth, many will take a hit to their health, some will lose their lives. But, with an unbeatable spirit running through our American bloodlines, and like that beacon of hope that set sail for New York city, unsung heroes all around this land will step up, trading comfort for hardship, and will join this fight. And just like our soldiers and sailors and marines have many times before them, our brave healthcare providers will fight this new enemy in front of them and they shall stiffen the spines of all Americans behind them.  We will get through this together. Resources & current updates: For information about best practices from the CDC, Click Here For updated information from the Virginia Department of Health, Click Here For updates from the City of Virginia Beach, Click Here COVID-19 Resources Cases in Virginia: The Virginia Department of Health website continues to update the status of cases in Virginia. As of 7am on April 8th, 3,333 positive cases have been reported here in Virginia. In the VA02 district, PPE Donations: Virginia Department of Emergency Management has issued a survey to collect information from the private sector regarding securing personal protective equipment (donation, in-kind contribution, discounted): [link removed]. School Meal Finder: Families and parents in Virginia can visit the school meal finder website to find locations near them schools are offering free school meals — breakfast and lunch are available for pick-up while school buildings remain closed due to COVID-19. Resources for Veterans: This link serves as a resource guide from the Department of Veterans and Defense Affairs: [link removed] COVID-19 Medicaid Pages: Both English and Spanish COVID-19 informational pages are live on their respective CoverVirginia websites. CoverVirginia is the home for information on Virginia's Medicaid and FAMIS programs. Federal Agency Resources: USA.gov is cataloging all U.S. government activities related to coronavirus. From actions on health and safety to travel, immigration, and transportation to education, find pertinent actions here. Federal Mental Health Resources: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7 crisis counseling and support to anyone who is seeking help in coping with the mental or emotional effects caused by developments related to the coronavirus pandemic. This resource is available via phone 1-800-985-5990 (or text TalkWithUs to 66746). Learn more about the Disaster Distress Helpline here. U.S. Dept of Treasury CARES Act Implementation: The U.S. Department of the Treasury has set up a website with up-to-date guidance on CARES Act implementation. Federal Coronavirus Tax Relief: The Internal Revenue Service has set up a website with up-to-date guidance to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus. Distribution of Economic Payments: Distribution of economic impact payments to individuals will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people. Social security recipients, who are not typically required to file a tax return, will automatically receive economic impact payments. For guidance, see Economic Impact Payments: What You Need To Know. Emergency Shelter for the Homeless: Governor Northam today announced an initial $2.5 million in emergency funding to shelter Virginia’s statewide homeless population during the COVID-19 pandemic. A press release on that emergency funding can be found here. This emergency support will provide temporary housing for the approximately 1,500 Virginians who are currently unsheltered or rely on shelters that require them to leave every day. The funding will also provide housing for individuals in shelters that may need to be quarantined, or where social distancing is not feasible. Emergency Care Sites: In Northern Virginia, the Dulles Expo Center will be the site for an alternative care facility. This center can accommodate 315 acute, or 510 non-acute beds. The Hampton Roads Convention Center will serve the Hampton Roads region, with an increased capacity of 360 acute, or 580 non-acute beds. The Richmond Convention Center will serve the greater Richmond area, with an increased capacity of 432 acute or 758 non-acute beds. Governor Northam's Administration is working closely with the Army Corps of Engineers to complete contracts, approve designs, and move towards construction. The goal is for the alternative care facilities to be ready in 6 weeks, to correspond with the projected peak of the virus in mid-May. Frequently Asked Questions from Workers: Given the substantial economic impact that COVID-19 has had on Virginia's workforce, the Northam Administration has released a comprehensive FAQ document to address questions that workers may have. That document can be found here. Federal Major Disaster Designation: Governor Northam announced that Virginia has received a Major Disaster Declaration to aid in the Commonwealth’s response to the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Governor Northam requested this federal disaster assistance on Monday, March 30. A Major Disaster Declaration designation provides federal public assistance for all areas in the Commonwealth of Virginia affected by COVID-19 at a federal cost share of 75 percent. The full press release on the Major Disaster Designation can be found here. Additional Information: For a comprehensive list of actions Governor Northam has announced to combat COVID-19 in Virginia, visit virginia.gov/coronavirus. The [email protected] email is now operational. The email address account will be monitored by our Joint Information Center (JIC) staff and relayed to the appropriate subject matter expert. If you have questions, please reach out using the above email. SAVE THE DATES Primary Day: Tuesday, June 9th 2020 General Election: Tuesday, November 3rd 2020 SHOP THE ONLINE STORE ‌ ‌ ‌ Taylor for Congress 2020 | PO Box 1284, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by [email protected] in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!