Governor Ralph Northam issued a statewide Stay at Home order on March 30 to protect the health and safety of Virginians and mitigate the spread of the novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19. The executive order takes effect immediately and will remain in place until June 10, 2020, unless amended or rescinded by a further executive order.
Link to full release: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/march/headline-855702-en.html
Link to Executive Order Fifty-Five: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/executive-actions/EO-55-Temporary-Stay-at-Home-Order-Due-to-Novel-Coronavirus-(COVID-19).pdf
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: To slow the spread of COVID-19, stay at home except to get groceries, medications or other essentials. Avoid outings you don’t have to take. Visit the FAQ for more tips: https://bit.ly/2UbVHEZ
Updates
County Parks
Visit https://jamescitycountyva.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=3804 for the complete rundown on what’s open and what’s closed.
From the Virginia Employment Commission
We’ve created a video tutorial to help walk you through the initial Unemployment online filing process. You can find it on our website and YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/0yyTGNWAA3A.
Scams
You’ve probably heard of the traditional “grandparent scam” where scammers pose as a grandchild who has been arrested and needs funds wired immediately for attorney fees. Well, there’s a new spin on this scam. Scammers are posing as a grandchild who has been hospitalized with COVID-19 and needs funds wired immediately for medical feels. Be aware that this is a scam! Never wire money to anyone without verifying the validity of the request and identity of the recipient. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/04/grandparent-scams-age-coronavirus
We have updated our COVID-19 Scams page: https://jamescitycountyva.gov/covid
Food
Times are hard. Make sure you are getting all the benefits available to you and your family. Additional SNAP benefits have been approved on an emergency basis due to COVID-19.
Apply and learn more at commonhelp.virginia.gov
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Is someone in your home sick with COVID-19? Before eating or preparing food, make sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you handle dishes used by the person who is sick, wash your hands right away. https://bit.ly/33vrmod
Business Updates
757 COVID-19 Business Leader Survey - The Greater Williamsburg Business Council and Greater Williamsburg Partnership in collaboration with Hampton Roads leading business organizations encourages you to take the 757 COVID-19 Business Leader Survey. https://sirresearch.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5BxMmLcWytM4Zdb
The Payroll Protection Program is now open. The Hampton Road Small Business Development Center recommends approaching the bank where you do business.
- SBA: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/paycheck-protection-program-ppp
- U.S. Department of Treasury: https://home.treasury.gov/cares
- Find a lender: https://www.sba.gov/paycheckprotection/find
Economic Development has a newsletter – Economic Development Emergency Information. Business owners may subscribe online: https://jamescitycountyva.gov/list.aspx?ListID=356 You can view the April 3 news online: https://jamescitycountyva.gov/CivicSend/ViewMessage/message/108847.
For more information for businesses, please visit https://www.yesjamescitycountyva.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3751.
Have questions for the Virginia Department of Health?
County Administrators from James City County and York County, Virginia and City of Williamsburg, Virginia - Municipal Government’s City Manager will meet soon with Dr. Julian, Acting Director of the Peninsula & Hampton Health District.
The conversation will focus on COVID-19 in our communities. Help us make sure we are asking the right questions. Tell us what you want to know by sending in your questions through social media, by email (renee.dallman@jamescitycountyva.gov or by calling 757-272-3337. The deadline for questions is Monday, April 6 at 10 a.m.
The conversation will be recorded and shared soon!
Cancellations
The Household Chemical Collection & Computer Recycling event scheduled for April 11 has been canceled.
Previously Released Information
Child Care for Essential Personnel
With the recent long-term closures of the public schools, many families who work in the medical field and other essential jobs in the community must find child care for their children. There are a large number of child care centers currently open and ready to enroll children of these essential personnel. Child Care Aware of Virginia has the most up-to-date information about the child care options in the region. Essential employees in need of child care can call 1-866-KIDS TLC (1-866-543-7852) for assistance. Full news release: https://jamescitycountyva.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=3786
Questions About Medicaid?
Virginia Medicaid is taking steps to improve access to care for Medicaid and FAMIS members. https://coverva.org/covid19/
Library Mobile Hotspots
Williamsburg Regional Library has purchased additional WiFi hotspots, each of which allows for 15 simultaneous connections and will be deployed to various locations around the Williamsburg area for set time periods beginning this week. Library staff will use the Mobile Library Services vehicles to take the hotspots to parking lots and neighborhoods where users can drive up, park, and take advantage of free internet access from the comfort and safety of their own cars.
The library has also set up several long-term WiFi hotspot locations where users can park and access WiFi from their cars 24/7. In the case of both the long-term and rotating WiFi access points, the internet signal put out by the hotspots will be sufficiently strong to be projected 30-foot distance around the MLS vehicle and to be used by up to 15 devices simultaneously. It is not necessary to have a library card to access any of the hotspots. www.wrl.org/hotspots
Please Don’t Litter
Just a friendly reminder to properly dispose of masks and gloves you may be wearing in public. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirator-use-faq.html
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
While social distancing for COVID-19, take the time to check in on friends and family to see how they are doing. Set up a daily phone or video call to touch base and share the best and most challenging parts of the day.
Need help or know someone who does?
Contact the Disaster Distress Helpline or call 1-800-985-5990
Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline or call 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224
County Offices and Services
As announced on March 23, all James City County offices, facilities, public basketball courts, tennis courts, pickleball courts, volleyball courts, sports courts, athletic fields, playgrounds, skate park and recreation centers and libraries are closed to the public until further notice. This includes any courts at local schools. The County continues to provide most services and staff are available for assistance by phone or email. Visit https://jamescitycountyva.gov for more information on individual departments and services.
All County parks continue to be open; however, all restrooms in County Parks are closed. The Chickahominy Riverfront Park Campground and restrooms will close on Friday, March 27 and will remain closed until further notice. In accordance with federal guidelines to curb and mitigate the spread of Coronavirus, or COVID-19, gatherings of 10 or more people in any park area will be asked to separate or leave the facilities.
For more information
- Hotline: 757-564-2140
- https://jamescitycountyva.gov/covid
- www.facebook.com/jamescitycounty
- www.twitter.com/jamescitycounty
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information:
- Virginia Department of Health (VDH): www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus, Phone: 1-877-ASK-VDH3 or Peninsula Health District Call Center: 757-564-7069, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV, https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2020.asp
- World Health Organization (WHO): www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus2019
- FEMA Rumor Control: https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus-rumor-control
Media Contact:
Renee Dallman, Public Information Officer
757-272-3337; renee.dallman@jamescitycountyva.gov