Do you have any local questions about COVID-19? Contact Elliott Robinson at erobinson@cvilletomorrow.org, Billy Jean Louis at bjeanlouis@cvilletomorrow.org and Charlotte Rene Woods at cwoods@cvilletomorrow.org; visit our Facebook page or send us a direct message on Twitter @cvilletomorrow. 

We will update this page with new developments.

THE LATEST

Monday, April 7

• The Thomas Jefferson Health District said it is working on a new epidemiology tracking system and will provide its next update on case numbers on Tuesday, April 8.
• The University of Virginia is packing up the belongings of students who resided in several dorms to make way for housing Medical Center workers. There are several methods for retrieving the items, including some that students would have to pay for.
• On the morning of Monday, April 6, the Virginia Department of Health reported at least 2,878 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 54 deaths. A cumulative 497 people have been hospitalized, and 24,521 people have been tested.

Saturday, April 4-Sunday, April 5

• The Thomas Jefferson Health District on Sunday afternoon reported 95 positive COVID-19 cases, which includes clinically diagnosed cases and 1 death. (Clinically diagnosed means people who have not been tested and are presenting symptoms of COVID-19 but have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, like a spouse.) Albemarle County is reported to have 46 cases (includes 5 clinically diagnosed), Charlottesville has 20 (includes 1 clinically diagnosed), Louisa County has 14, Fluvanna County has 9, Greene County has 4 and Nelson County has 2.
• On the morning of Sunday, April 5, the Virginia Department of Health reported at least 2.637 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 51 deaths. A cumulative 431 people have been hospitalized, and 23,671 people have been tested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported at least 304,826 cases nationally and 7,616 deaths.
• The Thomas Jefferson Health District on Saturday afternoon reported 90 positive COVID-19 cases, which includes clinically diagnosed cases. (Clinically diagnosed means people who have not been tested and are presenting symptoms of COVID-19 but have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, like a spouse.) Albemarle County is reported to have 44 cases (includes 4 clinically diagnosed), Charlottesville has 20 (includes 1 clinically diagnosed), Louisa County has 14, Fluvanna County has 7, Greene County has 3 and Nelson County has 2.
• Charlottesville Area Transit is restricting each bus to a 10-passenger capacity.
• On the morning of Saturday, April 4, the Virginia Department of Health reported at least 2.407 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 52 deaths. A cumulative 390 people have been hospitalized, and 21,552 people have been tested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported at least 277,205 cases nationally and 6,593 deaths.

Friday, April 3

• The Thomas Jefferson Health District on Friday afternoon reported 77 positive COVID-19 cases, which includes clinically diagnosed cases and 1 death. (Clinically diagnosed means people who have not been tested and are presenting symptoms of COVID-19 but have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, like a spouse.) Albemarle County is reported to have 37 cases (includes 5 clinically diagnosed), Charlottesville has 19 (includes 1 clinically diagnosed), Louisa County has 12, Fluvanna County has 5, Nelson County has 2 and Greene County has 2.
• On Friday, April 3, the Virginia Department of Health reported at least 2.012 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 46 deaths. A cumulative 312 people have been hospitalized, and 19,005 people have been tested.
• Gov. Ralph Northam has announced an initial $2.5 million in emergency funding to shelter the state’s homeless population during the pandemic.
• The Cavalier Daily reported on the layoffs of contracted Aramark workers without severance or notice.
• The Cavalier Daily also reported on the relocation of students in Bond House, Bice House and the Language Houses and the University of Virginia’s plans to house healthcare workers near the medical complex.
• Several organizations and local farms are working together to provide food to communities and keep agriculture afloat, Charlotte Rene Woods wrote.
• Billy Jean Louis reported on how teachers in the public schools in both Charlottesville and Albemarle County, are preparing for teaching being based outside of classrooms.
• On In My Humble Opinion on 101.3 Jamz, Executive Director Giles Morris and News Editor Elliott Robinson participated in a portion of the program’s special COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall and talked about the pandemic and what it is like to gather news during it.

Thursday, April 2

• The Thomas Jefferson Health District on Thursday afternoon reported 68 positive COVID-19 cases, which includes clinically diagnosed cases and 1 death. (Clinically diagnosed means people who have not been tested and are presenting symptoms of COVID-19 but have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, like a spouse.) Albemarle County is reported to have 32 cases (includes 4 clinically diagnosed), Charlottesville has 16 (includes 1 clinically diagnosed), Louisa County has 12, Fluvanna County has 5, Nelson County has 2 and Greene County has 1.
• On Thursday, April 2, the Virginia Department of Health reported at least 1,706 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 41 deaths. A cumulative 246 people have been hospitalized, and 17,589 people have been tested.
• Dr. Greg Gelburd has released a video that uses a hiking safety analogy in the hopes of hammering home COVID-19 precautions to a younger audience, Kate Hidalgo Bellows writes.
• Restaurant workers need paid sick time to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases, Richard Lord writes in this opinion piece.

Wednesday, April 1

• Community members and landlords are seeking solutions for rent payments amid the pandemic, Charlotte Rene Woods writes.
• The Thomas Jefferson Health District on Wednesday evening reported 63 positive COVID-19 cases, which includes clinically diagnosed cases and 1 death. (Clinically diagnosed means people who have not been tested and are presenting symptoms of COVID-19 but have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, like a spouse.) Albemarle County is reported to have 28 cases (includes 4 clinically diagnosed), Charlottesville has 16 (includes 1 clinically diagnosed), Louisa County has 12, Fluvanna County has 4, Nelson County has 2 and Greene County has 1. The Health District no longer is including a clinically diagnosed case outside of the district stemming from a positive case from within the district.
• In the Thomas Jefferson Health District, 41 of the 63 cases are people who are under age 60. Of the 63, 26 are men and 37 are women. Nineteen people have been hospitalized, and there has been 1 death.
• On Wednesday, April 1, the Virginia Department of Health reported at least 1,484 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 34 deaths. At least 208 people have been hospitalized and 15,344 people have been tested.
• The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has announced that it will be closed until April 23. Transactions on its website still are available. Vehicle registrations that expire in March and April have been extended for 60 days from the date of expiration. Driver’s licenses and identification cards that expire between March 15 and May 15 have been extended 60 days from the date of expiration.

Tuesday, March 31

• The Thomas Jefferson Health District on Tuesday evening reported 61 positive COVID-19 cases and 6 clinically diagnosed cases. (Clinically diagnosed means people who have not been tested and are presenting symptoms of COVID-19 but have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, like a spouse.) Albemarle County is reported to have 26 cases (includes 4 clinically diagnosed), Charlottesville has 15 (includes 1 clinically diagnosed), Louisa County has 12, Fluvanna County has 4, Nelson County has 2, Greene County has 1 and there is 1 clinically diagnosed case outside of the Health District stemming from a positive case from within the district.
• The Thomas Jefferson Health District has reported the first COVID-19-related death in the district. That person was a woman in her 80s. The Health District declined to provide any further information on the person. This death will be reflected in the statistics for Wednesday, April 1.
• An open letter to landlords from Cville Community Cares asks for them to waive rent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Virginia has not yet reached its predicted peak in COVID-19 cases, and the governor has expanded stay-at-home orders. Charlotte Rene Woods delves into some hospital planning and what Executive Order 55 says.
• The pandemic is putting stress on child care in the area, Billy Jean Louis writes. This could have ripple effects long after the crisis ends.
• On Tuesday, March 31, the Virginia Department of Health reported at least 1,250 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 27 deaths. At least 165 people have been hospitalized and 13,401 people have been tested. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at 4 p.m. Monday, March 30, reported 140,904 cases nationwide and 2,405 deaths.

Monday, March 30

• Kate Hidalgo Bellows talked to several people in the area about what the court emergency that included a shut-down of evictions means locally.
• The Thomas Jefferson Health District on Monday reported 54 positive COVID-19 cases and 4 clinically diagnosed cases. (Clinically diagnosed means people who have not been tested and are presenting symptoms of COVID-19 but have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, like a spouse.) Albemarle County is reported to have 24 cases (includes 2 clinically diagnosed), Charlottesville has 13 (includes 1 clinically diagnosed), Louisa County has 10, Fluvanna County has 3, Nelson County has 2, Greene County has 1 and there is 1 clinically diagnosed case outside of the Health District stemming from a positive case from within the district.
• Gov. Ralph Northam issued Executive Order 55, which further tightened restriction in Virginia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The order, which will be in effect at least through June 10, says that Virginians shall remain at home except for a few limited reasons, including getting groceries, seeking medical care and engaging in outdoor activity, given that individuals maintain at least a 6-foot distance from other people.
• On Monday, March 30, the Virginia Department of Health reported at least 1,020 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 25 deaths. At least 136 people have been hospitalized and 12,038 people have been tested. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 29, reported 122,653 cases nationwide and 2,112 deaths.

Saturday, March 28-Sunday, March 29

• The Thomas Jefferson Health District on Saturday reported 44 positive COVID-19 cases and 4 clinically diagnosed cases. (Clinically diagnosed means people who have not been tested and are presenting symptoms of COVID-19 but have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, like a spouse.) Albemarle County is reported to have 21 cases (includes 2 clinically diagnosed), Charlottesville has 11 (includes 1 clinically diagnosed), Louisa County has 9, Fluvanna County has 3, Nelson County has 2, Greene County has 1 and there is 1 clinically diagnosed case outside of the Health District stemming from a positive case from within the district.
• On Sunday, the Virginia Department of Health reported at least 890 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 22 deaths. At least 112 people have been hospitalized and 10,609 people have been tested.
• The Thomas Jefferson Health District on Saturday reported 42 positive COVID-19 cases and 4 clinically diagnosed cases. (Clinically diagnosed means people who have not been tested and are presenting symptoms of COVID-19 but have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, like a spouse.) Albemarle County is reported to have 21 cases (includes 2 clinically diagnosed), Charlottesville has 10 (includes 1 clinically diagnosed), Louisa County has 8, Fluvanna County has 3, Nelson County has 2, Greene County has 1 and there is one case clinically diagnosed case outside of the Health District stemming from a positive case from within the district.
• On Saturday, the Virginia Department of Health reported at least 739 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 17 deaths. At least 99 people have been hospitalized and 9,166 people have been tested.

Friday, March 27

• The city of Charlottesville has closed Pen, McIntire, Tonsler and Washington parks due to violations of gatherings of more than 10 people.
• At noon, the Thomas Jefferson Health District reported 36 COVID-19 cases and 4 clinically diagnosed cases. Albemarle County has 18, including 2 clinically diagnosed; Charlottesville has 10, including 1 clinically diagnosed; Louisa County has 5 cases; Fluvanna County has 3 cases; Nelson County has 2 cases; Greene County has 1 case; and there is 1 clinically diagnosed case of a person outside of the area with contact to a case in our health district.
• In numbers released early Friday, the Virginia Department of Health now reports that there are at least 604 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths. At least 83 people have been hospitalized, and 7,337 people have been tested. Statistics now will be updated at 9 a.m. instead of noon.
• The town of Scottsville has launched a COVID-19 page.
• The Charlottesville Office of Elections and Voter Registration is closed to the public, but the office will be staffed to answer phones and email from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Voters who wish to participate in the June 9 primary may register to vote or submit an absentee ballot online at the Department of Elections website. The city’s registrar’s office recommends that voters request a mailed absentee ballot using reason code 2A on the absentee ballot application. The city voter registrar also will accept applications via regular mail, email at vote@charlottesville.org and fax (434) 970-3249.
• Like the city of Charlottesville, Albemarle County has passed a continuity of governance ordinance.

Thursday, March 26

• Billy Jean Louis talked to members of the region’s immigrant community and the organizations that serve them about their concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Effective 5 p.m. Friday, March 27, with limited exceptions, the Albemarle County Office buildings on McIntire Road and Fifth Street Extended will close to the public until further notice.
• Charlotte Rene Woods talked to officials and business owners about what the proposed stimulus bill in Congress could mean for Charlottesville and Albemarle County.
• This evening, the Thomas Jefferson Health District said it has 27 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Albemarle County has 9, Charlottesville has 8, Louisa County has 5, Fluvanna County has 3, Greene County has 1 and Nelson County has 1.
• Marta M. Keane, CEO of JABA, and Peter M. Thompson, executive director of The Center, wrote about why our seniors should not be forgotten.
• The Virginia Department of Health now reports 460 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state. At least 6,189 people have been tested, and 13 people have died. The Health Department also has released demographic information. The two largest age groups with confirmed cases are people between 50 and 59 and 60 and 69. They both have 18.3% of total cases. The next largest group, between 20 and 29, make up 15.9% of total cases.

Wednesday, March 25

• The Thomas Jefferson Health District announced that there now are 22 lab-confirmed (presumptive positive) COVID-19 cases in the area and 3 clinically diagnosed cases (not tested but have been in close contact to someone who is lab confirmed, like a spouse, and are experiencing symptoms) in the region. Albemarle County has 9, Charlottesville has 7, Fluvanna County has 3, Louisa County has 4, 
  Nelson County has 1 and 1 case involves a person whose address has not yet been determined.
• The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Virginia has spiked to at least 391. At least 5,370 people have been tested, 59 people are hospitalized and 9 people have died.
• Charlottesville Mayor Nikuyah Walker, Police Chief RaShall Brackney and Fire Chief Andrew Baxter have sent letters to Gov. Ralph Northam asking that he enhance provisions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to mirror the stay-at-home orders in Louisiana, New York and California.
• The Charlottesville City Council has passed an ordinance ” to modify deadlines, modify public meeting and public hearing practices and procedures to address continuity of operations associated with the pandemic disaster.”
• Albemarle County has launched a page on COVID-19.

Tuesday, March 24

• The recreational area around Sugar Hollow Reservoir now is closed, “as visitors trying to access Sugar Hollow Reservoir recreational area have significantly increased in recent days,” according to a news release. Additionally, the Encore Shop at Ivy Materials Utilization Center, the Book Bin at the McIntire Recycling Center and all water and wastewater treatment plants are closed to the public until further notice.
• The following are closed or canceled, per Charlottesville Parks and Recreation:
  • All indoor recreation centers and pools
  • All playgrounds on park or city school property
  • All outdoor basketball courts, tennis courts and picnic shelters
  • The downtown administration office
  • Park restrooms
  • The Meadowcreek Golf Course
  • The Charlottesville Skate Park
  • All recreation and athletic programs, classes, camps, field trips, rentals and special events are cancelled through April 24
  • The City Market on April 4; the city will reassess the April 11 market and future markets in early April.
• In Charlottesville, the following are open
  • All outdoor parks and trails
  • Dog parks, but they are limited to only 10 people at a time in the fenced-in area
• At about 4 p.m., the Thomas Jefferson Health District reported 14 lab confirmed, or presumptive positive, COVID-19 cases and 2 clinically diagnosed cases. The Health District defines clinically diagnosed cases as “individuals who are not tested because they [had] very close contacts to someone who is lab confirmed COVID-19 positive and are experiencing symptoms. Due to their level of exposure and symptoms, the Health Department considers them positive without a COVID-19 lab test. For example, a clinically diagnosed case could be the spouse of a lab confirmed COVID-19 case.” One of the clinical cases lives in Charlottesville, and one of them lives outside of the Health District.
  Charlottesville has 3 confirmed cases, Albemarle County has 6, Louisa County has 3, Nelson County has 1 and Fluvanna County has 1.
• Starting tomorrow, Gov. Ralph Northam’s COVID-19 briefings will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 2 p.m. instead of daily.
• Effective immediately, all tennis courts and basketball courts in Albemarle County parks and schoolyards are closed.
• The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has announced that its stores will reduce operating hours. Beginning Friday, March 27, stores will be open from noon to 7 p.m. daily.
• At noon, the Virginia Department of Health updated the number of confirmed cased of COVID-19 in Virginia. There are at least 290 confirmed cases. At least 4,470 people have been tested, 45 people have been hospitalized and officially 7 deaths.
• Local businesses are having to make tough choices as controls tighten on which businesses can remain open, how they can operate and what operations are available to sustain some cash flow, Charlotte Rene Woods and Kate Hidalgo Bellows reported.

Monday, March 23

• Updated numbers from Thomas Jefferson Health District on Monday evening listed 11 confirmed cases in the region: Albemarle County has 5, Charlottesville has 3, Louisa County has 2 and Fluvanna County has 1.
• At 3:50 p.m., Gov. Ralph Northam released details about what is now closed or prohibited in Virginia through his executive order.
• During his 2 p.m. address, Gov. Ralph Northam shuttered all schools in Virginia through the end of the academic year.
• Effective at midnight, all entertainment and recreation facilities are closed and various establishments — including barbershops, salons and spas — will be closed for at least 30 days. Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control stores, grocery stores, pharmacies and some retail outlets will remain open with sanitation protocols or restrictions on the number of customers inside of building at once.
• Law enforcement will break up public gatherings of 10 or more people, Northam said.
• At noon, the Virginia Department of Health updated the number of confirmed cased of COVID-19 in Virginia. There are at least 254 confirmed cases and 3,697 people tested, 38 hospitalizations and 6 deaths.
• Charlottesville’s Neighborhood Development Services now is closed to the public. Additionally, basketball and tennis courts are closed in the city.  More information on both new closures can be found here.

Sunday, March 22

• The Thomas Jefferson Health District announced Sunday afternoon the following number of confirmed cases in its service area: 4 in Albemarle County, 3 in Charlottesville, 1 in Fluvanna County and 2 in Louisa County.
• The Peninsula Health District announced three additional deaths. The three women in their 80s from Newport News, James City County and Williamsburg bring the state’s death toll to 6.
• Support Cville, in response to an open letter to Gov. Ralph Northam, is expanding its work to include Equip Cville, which is asking residents who have access to these critical supplies to donate them, Charlotte Rene Woods writes.
• Beginning at 10 p.m. today, the University of Virginia Medical Center no longer will allow hospital visitors. There are several exceptions listed on the Medical Center’s website.
• At 11 a.m. Sunday, Gov. Ralph Northam announced an additional 67 additional COVID-19 cases since his previous talk on Saturday. The number of cases in Virginia now stands at 219. (There still is a lag between the governor’s announcements and the Virginia Department of Health’s website. “We are fully aware of the data lag on the VDH COVID-19 website and sincerely apologize for the confusion,” the Thomas Jefferson Heath District tweeted yesterday.) Northam also is shifting his briefings to 2 p.m.
• Charlottesville City Schools is switching to serving food on Mondays and Wednesdays at several locations throughout the city. Parents are not required to attend with children, “but it is helpful since children will be carrying multiple days’ worth of food — bring an adult or at least a backpack,” the division said. To volunteer, click here.

Saturday, March 21

• The University of Virginia has moved classes online for the remainder of the semester and canceled Final Exercises. President Jim Ryan’s announcement effectively shut down Grounds to all except staff and faculty who need access for critical reasons. The release said that staff compensation and benefits would not be interrupted, and said the situation for contract workers would be explained in a forthcoming announcement. Ryan on Wednesday, March 18, clarified that holding Final Exercises at a later date still is an option.
• Gov. Ralph Northam announced new measures Tuesday, March 17, “to combat COVID-19 and to support impacted Virginians.” The measures included a new directive targeting restaurants, gyms, and other gathering places to adhere to 10-person at a time limits. The measures also include new support resources available to impacted workers and employers. Read the full announcement here. You can watch Gov. Northam’s briefing here.
• The City of Charlottesville announced that as of Wednesday, March 18, it will operate with only essential employees reporting to work and, with a few exceptions, City Hall facilities closed to the public, including the closure of offices at the City Hall Annex, Parks & Recreation, and Public Works. In the same release, the City announced that CAT will go fare free and limit access to rear doors of buses to facilitate social distancing. More information is here.
• The Virginia Department of Health released updated guidance for COVID-19 testing at its state lab, due to a shortage of tests, that limits testing to those who meet specific criteria. 
• Northam has ordered all DMV locations closed. Licenses that expire during this time will have a 60-day extension.
• The state will follow the direction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and discourage meetings of more than 10 people.
• Northam has asked anyone over the age of 65 to self-quarantine. COVID-19 so far is more severe to the elderly and people battling other medical conditions.
• Charlottesville Area Transit’s Downtown Transit Station now will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It will be closed on weekends. CAT still are operating on a normal schedule.

Looking for the list of area closures? Click here.

How to help and get help

Thomas Jefferson Health District hotline: (434) 972-6261 (Currently staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

Virginia Department of Health hotline: 877-275-8343

University of Virginia call center domestic: 877-685-4836 international: (202) 800-2408

This is an updated list of links to ways people can help by donating money or volunteering their time and service or get the help they need. If you have a resource you think we should add to our lists or bring special attention to, please e-mail Elliott at the address listed above.

• Charlottesville City Schools is seeking volunteers to aid in its food distribution to youth.
• Piedmont Housing Alliance Emergency Assistance Fund will allow PHA to provide necessities and relief to its most vulnerable residents due to COVID-19 pandemic. All residents who face hardship in the coming weeks will be met with long-term support to ensure that everyone maintains stable, healthy housing.
• The Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition has listed information about actions we can take to reduce stress during the pandemic. Resources also include virtual recovery support groups. Other offerings will be posted as they become available.
• Support Cville is a landing page that connects people who need support to those who want to provide support. Basically a well-organized page of links staffed by a group of volunteers who are working to facilitate connections to achieve positive community outcomes. Want to help? Check out their directory and/or get in touch with their mods.
• Mutual Aid Infrastructure – Charlottesville is a public Facebook Group where people can connect with volunteer groups, tell their story, share information resources, and interact in a moderated space specific to our community.
• Alliance for Interfaith Ministries is offering non-emergency assistance from volunteers. Residents of Charlottesville and Albemarle County may request services through this online form.  Information about access to other programs is on their website.
• Charlottesville Area Community Foundation COVID-19 Community Emergency Response Fund is a new funding initiative created by CACF to organize community donations that can be used to help people impacted by this crisis in the short- and long-term. Visit their page for more details and consider donating.
• United Way of Greater Charlottesville COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund is a new funding initiative designed to provide emergency help for those who are most in need within Charlottesville and our surrounding counties. Visit their page for more details and consider donating.
• Charlottesville area COVID-19 coronavirus – Ask a reporter is a public Facebook Group that connects people in the community with questions to a group of local reporters representing daily, weekly, radio, and broadcast news organizations in our area. It is moderated and requires permission to participate. Ask to join if there are questions you cannot get answered or you want to be part of a community working to verify facts and information.

If you have anything to add, contact Elliott Robinson at erobinson@cvilletomorrow.org, Billy Jean Louis at bjeanlouis@cvilletomorrow.org and Charlotte Rene Woods at cwoods@cvilletomorrow.org; visit our Facebook page or send us a direct message on Twitter @cvilletomorrow. 

ARCHIVE

Everything beyond this point is being preserved but will not be updated.

What you want to know

• In Charlottesville:
  • The Treasurer’s Office has suspended past due tax and fee collection
  • The deadline for personal property tax supplements that were due April 3 are now due April 17
  • Past due penalty and interest on local taxes has been suspended until May 31. Businesses responsible for remitting meals and lodging tax are encouraged to file timely returns and set up appropriate payment arrangements with the City
• In Albemarle County, passed an ordinance extending the deadline for elderly and disable persons to apply for the property tax exemptions to May 16.

• The Centers for Disease Control defines COVID-19 as a “respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in more than 100 locations internationally, including in the United States.” On March 11, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic. There are more than 184,975 cases globally– 3,536 in the U.S.– and 7,529 people have died. “It is a new infectious disease never before seen in humans that spread person to person readily and has a significant severity and mortality; all of these things make it stand out,” said Dr. William Petri, professor of internal medicine and Pathology, associate director of microbiology and past president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
• If you see price gouging, report it to Attorney General Mark Herring’s office by email at consumer@oag.state.va.us, through the online form or call 800-552-9963.
• Do you know someone who needs COVID-19 information in a language that is not English? Washington state has translated this page into a dozen languages.
• The University of Virginia Medical Center now is screening all patients and visitors. Visitors with respiratory symptoms or possible COVID-19 exposure will not be allowed in clinics or the Medical Center. Screening is a series of questions used to identify people who may be at risk for developing COVID-19.
• The Charlottesville Police Department is suspending front counter services, modifying its response to non-emergency calls, and closing its facilities to the public indefinitely. In person requests for police reports, fingerprinting services and taxi license registrations have been suspended Sex offender registrations and updates will continue. To request police reports and crash reports, email RecordsTeam@charlottesville.org, call (434) 970-3280, fax (434) 970-3233 or send a letter to 606 E. Market St., Charlottesville, VA 22902, ATTN: Records.
• PVCC announced the “cancellation/postponement” of this year’s graduation ceremonies, following a decision from Virginia Community College Chancellor Glenn DuBois to cancel graduation events across the state. “Commencement is a time of celebration. At the ceremony we recognize and congratulate our amazing students for their educational success. It breaks my heart that we have to cancel or postpone this event. But not having an event in no way detracts from the accomplishments of these graduates. I encourage families, in small gatherings, to honor their graduates and celebrate their achievement,” said PVCC President Frank Friedman. More info from PVCC can be found here. 
• Piedmont Family YMCA announced the closure of all of its locations effective March 17. More information is here.
• Effective immediately, the Jefferson Area Agency on Aging will not be accepting in-person visitors. JABA staff members are teleworking and are available via phone and email. More information is here.
• Effective March 18, the Charlottesville Clerk of Circuit Court’s Office is closed to walk-in traffic. Timely matters are by appointment only by contacting Clerk of Court Llezelle Dugger at duggerl@charlottesville.org or (434) 970-3064. Calls will continue to be answered from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Free access to land and probate records will be available by remote access. Anyone with a paid subscription will have it extended for the amount of time that the clerk’s office is close to the public.
• Albemarle County is delaying its budget process. “In my capacity as Chair of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, I have asked County Executive Jeff Richardson to bring forward at the work session on Tuesday, March 17, a revised budget schedule that will delay further activity on the budget process and extend the schedule such that the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget will not be adopted on April 20, as originally planned,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Ned Gallaway said in an email.
• The Charlottesville Housing and Redevelopment Authority, in partnership with the Public Housing Association of Residents, is suspending evictions and voucher terminations until least March 27.
• Albemarle County has a list of modified meetings and virtual meeting access.
• The city of Charlottesville also has modified its meeting schedule and canceled several meetings.
• On Friday, Gov. Ralph Northam has ordered all K-12 schools in Virginia closed for at least two weeks.
• On Thursday, Gov. Ralph Northam has declared a state of emergency. The city of Charlottesville and Albemarle County also have declared local emergencies.
• “Older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions — like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, for example — seem to be at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness,” the CDC states. “The retiree population would be predicted to disproportionately suffer if there is COVID-19 infections,” Petri said.
• If you are mildly ill, you still are contagious and should self-isolate to avoid spreading the disease. There is not yet a cure.
• “Hand washing, not touching your eyes, mouth or nose and staying six feet away from someone with a cough will reduce the risk of acquisition,” Petri said. “If you develop a fever and cough you should call in to your doctor to arrange to be tested for the flu (which is still going on in Virginia) and if the flu test is negative to be tested for COVID-19. … A fever and cough is how both influenza and COVID-19 present.” Petri reemphasized “social distancing,” saying that “We can look to China and South Korea where social distancing has (or in the case of South Korea will soon) bring the epidemic under control. In these examples, which are hopefully more extreme than what Charlottesville would experience. it was a month or more of social distancing to bring the epidemics under control.”
• Thomas Jefferson Health District hotline: (434) 972-6261 (Currently staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
• Virginia Department of Health hotline: 877-275-8343
• University of Virginia call center domestic: 877-685-4836 international: (202) 800-2408

What we know

You don’t have to deal with what you’re feeling right now alone. Local therapists talk about mental health and access to resources through this time of isolation. 

There is nothing like a crisis to expose the cavernous gaps in our systems of support, Angela Ciolfi, executive director of the Legal Aid Justice Center, writes

UVa Health System officials say they are now conducting their own COVID-19 tests, The Daily Progress reports.

Parents looking for homeschooling resources and advice from UVa. Curry School of Education faculty on how to approach the schools shutdown should check out this story by Billy Jean Louis. 

The Cavalier Daily reported Tuesday that students continued to meet in groups despite requests that they return home

The governments of Charlottesville and Albemarle Counties have made changes to protect their staffs.

Frequently asked questions about COVID-19. As things progress, we’ll augment these questions and answers.

Organizations and school divisions are working to make sure students are fed during the governor’s two-week school closures.

Restaurants around Charlottesville are making the tough decision to close, and community members are organizing to help them survive.

The area was quiet on Sunday as more people adhered to social distancing.

The Haven will remain open to the community members it serves, but its Wednesday food services has been suspended.

Behavioral advice on how to be a good neighbor and global citizen, from four researchers at UVa who work in different disciplines

Images from around the area,  our photographers on assignment Mike Kropf and Zack Wajsgras

Shoppers preparing for COVID-19 are facing bare shelves in the area, Billy Jean Louis reported.

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF) announced the creation of a new fund to aid those impacted during the crisis, Charlotte Rene Woods reported.

We’re creating an ongoing list of cancellations, postponements and closures.

It’s close to business as usual at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport.

Health officials met with Charlottesville and Albemarle County residents and officials Thursday afternoon to say that we should not panic, but we should be prepared, Charlotte Rene Woods reported.

• The town of Scottsville has declared a local emergency. Monday’s Town Council meeting still will be held and streamed on Facebook.
• Many classes, programs and events through Charlottesville Recreation and Parks have been canceled. All parks and trails remain open. Albemarle County also has made modifications while keeping parks, trails and boat launches open.
• SOCA has suspended all activities through April 5.
• The Tom Tom Founders Festival has been rescheduled to September.
• All events through April 5 at The Paramount Theater have been postponed, rescheduled or canceled.
• Thursday night, the University of Virginia made the following announcements:
  • A decision on Final Exercises in May will be made by April 15.
  • All events at John Paul Jones Arena are postponed at least through the weekend; visit johnpauljonesarena.com for more information.
  • A new Financial Resource Working Group is looking into items such as offsetting dining and housing costs for students.
  • A rainy day fund distributed by the Student Affairs Office exists for students who may have unexpected expenses.
  • Students in the Federal Work Study program who started class for the spring term and earned wages before the move to online instruction will continue to be paid.
  • Arrangements will be made for any student who has returned home but cannot return to Grounds if in-person classes resume before the end of the semester.
  • Earlier, University of Virginia, which is on spring break, announced that it is moving classes online as of March 19. The university itself is not closed, but operations have been modified.
  • Additional information for UVa students who live on Grounds.
  • All athletics at UVa have been suspended.
• Piedmont Virginia Community College is cancelling classes March 16 and 17. Beginning March 18, most classes will move to online instruction.
• Albemarle County Public Schools are in Phase Two of its COVID-19 response multiple events have been canceled.
• Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital is allowing only two visitors at a time to see patients in hospital rooms, the emergency department and other outpatient facilities.
• Greyhound currently has no travel restrictions or cancellations.
• Amtrak has no travel restrictions but has suspended some trips between New York and Washington, D.C., due to low ridership.
• CitySpace, which also houses Charlottesville Tomorrow, will be limited to groups of no more than 25 people. The building is closed to the public, unless you have an existing small group meeting reservation.