The Peninsula continues to be a hot spot for positive cases of the coronavirus.
Gov. Ralph Northam said Friday the Army Corps of Engineers has picked three sites in the state to serve as additional care sites for hospitals, including the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton.
The other two sites are the Richmond Convention Center and the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly.
The Hampton Roads Convention Center can accommodate 360 acute or 580 non-acute beds, the Richmond Convention Center, 432 acute or 758 non-acute and the Dulles Expo Center, 315 acute or 510 non-acute beds.
All three sites will be ready in about six weeks, Northam said.
In the Peninsula, James City County has 104 positive cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Newport News has 37, Hampton has 29, York County has 17, Williamsburg has 9 and Poquoson has 3, according to the Virginia Department of Health’s website.
As of Friday, there are 2,012 positive cases and 51 deaths statewide. At least eight people from the Peninsula Health District have died from the coronavirus.
The Peninsula Health District covers Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, James City County and York County. The Hampton Health District covers Hampton.
Healthcare
- Early stages: Surge estimated in May.
- CDC: Virginia has state widespread community transmission of COVID-19.
- PPE: shortage, working on staff and additional space.
- Ventilators: Using values to take care of more than one patient at a time.
- Virginian predication model: still in the works.
- Face masks in public: law enforcement won’t enforce.
- Health care providers concerned about coming home to families? Northam said they will work with them.
Dr. Norman Oliver, the state’s health commissioner, said predictions models including those from the University of Pennsylvania, University of Washington, Imperial College of London, University of Virginia’s model for defense agency, are not absolute and should be taken with a grain of salt.
Other updates
- Unemployment: 114,104 people filed. Gig, self-employers now qualify. More staff, updated website and increased surge capacity.
- Religious holidays: Celebrate through other means, ie, old virtual gatherings or drive-in services.
- ABC stores- Northam said state is treating stores like other retail, not open to prevent alcoholics from withdrawal symptoms.
- State budget: Facing recession, budget cuts and new budget starts July 1.
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