2020 School and Business Closure ALERT from Senator Scott Surovell

COVID-19 3/23/20 Update Today at 2:00 p.m., Governor Northam held a press conference where he announced that community spread of the COVID-19 virus was continuing and he was therefore announcing several new actions. Public and private schools will remain closed through the balance of the academic year.  The Department of Education will be issuing guidance tomorrow regarding completion of the school year. Recreational and entertainment businesses must close.   Non-essential businesses must close including personal care businesses. Essential businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies, medical providers, childcare businesses may remain open.   Restaurants can only provide take out and curbside.  Essential businesses may remain open but only if they serve less than 10 patrons at a time (excluding staff) and observe new stringent disinfectant protocols.  The Governor's staff has an update call Monday, Wednesday and Friday with General Assembly members at 5:00 p.m.  I will continue to post updates from those calls, a link to the Governor's Order once it is posted, and other updates on my blog here: THE DIXIE PIG: Responding to COVID-19 (Updated Daily) If you experience symptoms including a fever, cough, or trouble breathing, call your healthcare provider immediately. The Virginia Department of Health website continues to update the status of cases in Virginia. As of noon today, 94 positive cases have been reported here in Virginia.  Virginia Case Tracker Worldwide Case Tracker Meals for Children and Families All of our local school systems are distributing meals to children during the school shutdown.  There are over a dozen sites in the 36th District. Meals are free for  Here are links to the locations in Fairfax, Prince William and Stafford County: Fairfax County Public Schools Meal Sites  Fairfax County Bus Route Meal Service Prince William County Public Schools Meal Sites Stafford County Public Schools Meal Sites Help for Economically Impacted Businesses and Individuals U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration for Virginia. Small businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout the Commonwealth affected by the COVID-19 public health crisis can now apply for low-interest federal disaster loans of up to $2 million from the SBA to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other expenses. To submit a loan application through the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, please click here:  Apply for Small Business Economic Disaster Loan As always, please reach out to my office at 571-249-4484 or district36@senate.virginia.gov if you have questions or ideas about things we can do to serve the community better. It is an honor to serve you in Richmond.                       Senator Scott Surovell           36th District