Dulles Expo Center to be transformed to a medical facility to handle COVID-19 patients
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| Gov. Ralph Northam tries on a face mask made by a Department of Corrections inmate. |
Construction will begin this week on three temporary alternative medical sites to handle the overflow of COVID-19 cases in Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam announced April 6.
One of those sites, at the Dulles Expo Center can accommodate 315 acute or 510 non-acute beds. It should be up and running in about six weeks. The other site will be at the convention centers in Hampton Roads and Richmond.
Virginia had a total of 2,878 COVID-19 cases, including 241 new cases, and 54 deaths, as of April 6. Nearly half of these cases affect people under age 50. The actual number of people infected is higher, however, as many people are asymptomatic or haven’t been tested.
There are 488 cases of coronavirus cases in the Fairfax Health District, including 62 new ones, and six deaths as of April 6. That’s a big jump from April 5, which saw 39 new cases.
To address a “severe shortage” of personal protective equipment (PPE), Northam said the state has signed a $27 million contract with Northfield, a Virginia-based logistics company, to provide N95 masks, gloves, and gowns. The first shipment, from Asia, is expected to arrive April 13.
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Virginia has begun distributing 56,000 MREs (meals ready to eat) to food banks, which should be enough for the next six weeks, Northam said, plus a million medical-grade masks to healthcare facilities.
The state still lacks enough materials to carry out widespread “rapid turnaround testing,” he said. Health officials are working on getting more tests with a 15 to 30-minute turnaround, with the priority for hospital patients. Testing by private labs can take five to seven days to get results.
According to Northam, Virginia’s Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services is one of the first public health labs in the nation to use genetic technology to help public health officials better understand and track the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic. “That will give us more tools to fight it,” he said.
The genetic sequences uploaded so far show evidence that the virus was introduced in multiple communities in Virginia rather than spreading form a single source.
Northam urged the public to continue to practice social distancing and frequent hand washing, noting that is the best way to fight COVID-19. When grocery shopping or otherwise out in public, he said people should wear face masks.
Homemade cloth masks are acceptable but don’t offer the same level of protection as medical-grade masks, so social distancing is still important while wearing them. That’s important, he said, because there are many people who have COVID-19 who are walking around in the community and don’t know they have it.
In other coronavirus news:
ABC allows direct sales – The Virginia ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) has authorized distilleries in the state to temporarily sell and ship products directly to customers.
This change is being done to help alleviate hardships caused by the COVID-19 crisis, states ABC CEO Travis Hill. “Virginia distilleries contribute to the economic vitality of the commonwealth and it’s important that they have some flexibility in how they are able to provide their products to consumers while their tasting rooms are closed.”
The agreement covers 45 distilleries in the state, including Falls Church Distillers in Falls Church and Greenspur in Fairfax.
Funds for nonprofits – The Community Foundation of Northern Virginia awarded $360,000 to 28 organizations from its COVID-19 Response Fund. The grants will help nonprofits meet basic needs and offer emergency financial assistance to community members.
Among the organizations assisted: the ACCA Child Development Center in Annandale ($15,000), New Hope Housing ($10,000), the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium ($10,000), and Fairfax Diapers ($5,000).
Related stories: Childcare center focuses on families on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic
Eviction guidelines – With so many people losing jobs, the Fairfax County Emergency Blog offers some guidance on the rights of tenants.
No evictions will be issued or processed before April 26. A landlord cannot evict a tenant for nonpayment of rent without a court order, no matter what a lease says. A landlord also needs a court order to remove a tenant or personal belongings.
Tenants are still responsible for paying rent even if they have COVID-19 and are quarantined or in a hospital or lose their job. The State Corporation Commission issued an order prohibiting the cut off of electricity, natural gas, and water until May 16.
Aid for the homeless – Northam authorized $2.5 million April 3 in emergency funding for the homeless. The funds will provide temporary housing during the pandemic for approximately 1,500 Virginians who are currently unsheltered or in shelters that require them to leave every day and for shelter residents who need to be quarantined.
The funds can be used for hotel and motel vouchers, case management, food, cleaning supplies, and medical transportation.