COVID-19

Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Worldwide Tracking

Virginia Department of Health Tracking

Commonwealth of Virginia Important Updates & Resources

Loudoun County Updates & Resources

Prince William County Updates & Resources

Sign up for Loudoun County text alerts: text LCCOVID19 to 888777

Sign up for Prince William text alerts: text COVIDPWC to 888777 for English or COVIDPWCES to 888777 for Spanish

If you or someone you know is feeling depressed or suicidal, please call one of the following numbers:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990
• Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255; Press 1

If you think you have been exposed

• Call your doctor: If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and are exhibiting symptoms, call your healthcare provider for medical advice and to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19.
• According to the CDC, the following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure: fever, dry cough, shortness of breath

• Social distancing can help slow down the outbreak by reducing the chance of infection among high-risk populations.
• The CDC defines social distancing as it applies to COVID-19 as "remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible."
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are unavailable.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash

• An agreement is in place to increase COVID-19 testing capacity in Northern Virginia at Aperiomics with the help of Janelia Research Campus and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. With this new support, Aperiomics will have the ability to process up to 2,500 samples weekly. The company has also been able to reduce the out-of-pocket cost of the test from an initial $250 per sample to a current cost of $99 per sample. The test is fully reimbursable by Medicare and private insurance. Both Aperiomics and Janelia Research Campus are located in Loudoun County. Medical professionals interested in ordering COVID-19 test kits from Aperiomics may email orders@aperiomics.com or call 703-229-0406. You can read more by clicking here.

Food Banks

• For those facing food insecurity, please use this link to find a food bank near you: https://www.foodpantries.org/ci/va-ashburn
• If you would like to make donations to a local food bank, please call first to maximize “social distancing” when making your donation.

Utilities

• The Virginia State Corporation Commission extended a mandatory moratorium on the disconnection of utility services due to nonpayment of bills until Aug. 31. Read more: http://bit.ly/2XVc8HE
• Verizon announced they will waive late fees and keep customers connected to their services if they are negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. You can find their announcement here.
• Cox Communications will waive late fees and keep customers connected as well as expand their low-cost services for students and families in need during the coronavirus pandemic. You can find their update here. 

Rental Rights

• Virginia has launched the Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development using $50 million in federal CARES Act funds. Learn more here.
• Governor Northam has also sent a letter to request that the Virginia’s Circuit Court judges extend the moratorium on evictions until July 20, 2020. Read the letter here. 
• Visit StayHomeVirginia.com for more information and resources on tenant rights.
• If you are facing an eviction the Virginia Poverty Law Center is asking you to reach out to their Eviction Legal Helpline: 1-833 NoEVICT. The Helpline provides free advice from an attorney to any tenant in the state facing eviction, regardless of the tenant's location or household income. You can find other COVID-19 related legal rights information on the Virginia Poverty Law Center website here. 

Transportation

• WMATA (Metro Bus & Rail) announced changes to their reduced train and bus schedules to help protect the health of customers and Metro employees. You can find their full update regarding service changes here.

• Virginia Railway Express (VRE) shared a reduced schedule for their Fredericksburg and Manassas lines starting March 17 until further notice. You can find the updated schedule here.

DMV Update

• As DMV reopens more offices across the Commonwealth through mid-summer, customers with expiring credentials have been assisted by an executive directive put in place by Governor Ralph Northam which extends the validity of some driver’s licenses, identification cards, and vehicle registrations. This extension will give customers with expiring credentials more time to schedule appointments to complete their DMV business.
• The Fourth Amended Executive Directive seven extends the validity of every driver, vehicle, and special identification credential due to expire on or before July 31, 2020 for up to an additional 90 days not to exceed October 31, 2020. This extension is in addition to the prior extension of up to 90 days not to exceed August 31, 2020.
• This means that a customer whose credential expires between March 15 and April 30 has an additional 90 days added to the prior 90 days, effectively 180 days, beyond the expiration date to renew. Customers whose credential expires between May 1 and July 31 will have up to 180 days beyond the expiration date to renew, not to exceed October 31, 2020. Customers with a credential that expires after July 31 must renew the credential before its expiration date. For the latest DMV information, visit dmvNOW.com/COVID19.

Important School Update

• Governor Northam has announced guidance for phased reopening of PreK-12 Schools. You can read more here: http://bit.ly/2AjcL4Z

Employment & Taxes

• The Virginia Employment Commission will waive the one-week waiting period to ensure workers can receive unemployment insurance benefits as soon as possible. Additionally, the eligibility for unemployment benefits has been expanded, and workers who meet the following criteria will be considered for support:

  • Workers affected because their employer needs to temporarily slow or cease operations due to COVID-19.

  • Workers who have been issued a notice to self-quarantine by a medical or public health official and is not receiving paid sick or medical leave from their employer.

  • Workers who must stay home to care for an ill family member and are not receiving paid family medical leave from their employer.

• For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions guide for workers that have been temporarily laid off or discharged during this public health crisis.

• The Department of Taxation is extending the due date for individual and corporate income taxes owed to June 1, 2020. Interest will still accrue. *Note: the filing deadline of May 1, 2020 remains the same.*

• The Loudoun Board of Supervisors has approved a one month delay in payment of personal property taxes. The tax deadline will now be June 5, 2020, instead of May 5.

Small Business Loans

• The U.S. Small Businesses Administration approved disaster loans as a financing option for small businesses in Virginia that have been, and will be, negatively affected by the COVID-19 emergency.
• For more information on the criteria for loan approval and for help applying, please visit the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development’s website here: biz.loudoun.gov/sba-economic-injury-disaster-loan-process/

Taxes

• Businesses impacted by COVID-19 can defer payments on state sales taxes due on March 20 for 30 days.
• The Virginia Department of Taxation is extending the due date for individual and corporate income taxes owed to June 1, 2020. Interest will still accrue. *Note: the filing deadline of May 1, 2020 remains the same.*