Friends,

Over the last few days, I’ve been thinking about the people on the front lines of this crisis — healthcare workers, grocery store employees, delivery drivers, emergency first responders, and so many others. I’m so grateful to these community members who sacrifice their personal safety every day to ensure that the rest of us stay safe and healthy

But the rest of us have a part to play, too. It’s on us to maintain social distancing for as long as necessary — shutting schools for the rest of the academic year, keeping non-essential businesses closed, and refraining from gathering with people outside of our immediate household. These actions are tough but absolutely necessary — it’s how we’ll flatten the curve and make sure our nurses and doctors can do their vital work without hospitals becoming overwhelmed.

I also want to share some resources with you — I hope you’ll find them helpful:

The Virginia Department of Education has a number of documents with information about school closures, as well as a handbook to help parents navigate learning at home.
 
For any who need reproductive healthcare services, NARAL Virginia has put together this guide.
Virginia Medicaid covers all COVID-19 testing and treatment. Here’s an informative one-pager from the VA Department of Medical Assistance Services on how to get coverage and services.
VirginiaNavigator is a statewide nonprofit organization that offers resources of local services for older adults, veterans, people with disabilities, and their families and caregivers.
The Virginia Coronavirus Fraud Task Force is working to identify, investigate, and prosecute fraud related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in Virginia. The Virginia Fusion Center is also actively monitoring alleged fraudulent activity related to COVID-19 and sharing that information with local, state, and federal authorities. To report fraudulent activity email: [email protected]
Lastly, the state of Virginia has a designated page for COVID-19 updates.

I also want to give a shout-out to Rivanna Natural Designs, an RVA company that creates beautiful trophies and plaques, while staying environmentally friendly and green. They contacted my office and shared that they had 130 N95 masks (part of their standard personal protective equipment) that they wanted to donate. We were able to connect them to Daily Planet Health Services. It’s actions like these that will get us through this challenging time.

Finally, I hope you are all finding ways to take a breather and keep from getting overwhelmed. During breaks from work, I’ve been taking walks through my neighborhood to see my neighbors (from a safe distance, of course!) and stay connected to each other.

Stay safe, and keep in touch,

-- Ghazala