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Arlington Residents and Friends,
This email shares progress we have in response to COVID 19 with respect to hunger and testing, tells you where we stand on key metrics, and gives a sense of where we are headed. It starts, however, with a little something I hope will make you smile.
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Why the smile? Click and spend 90 seconds. Well done Arlington is right.
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Good. Now let's update you.
First, as a reminder, this email is not daily, so please sign up COVID 19 Updates from the County as we must work together to stop this deadly virus. To know what we are doing fastest, go here: https://health.arlingtonva.us/covid-19-coronavirus-updates/ scroll to the bottom, and sign up for updates.
Progress We are Making
Arlington County and Arlington Public Schools have continued to work together on hunger. Seven feeding sites for kids are now open daily, instead of the five when I last updated you. And the structures are being put in place to do more. Click below to see some of what we are doing and how the community is leaning. We also need EBT online nationally for SNAP, so click here if you agree: https://www.change.org/p/instacart-allow-ebt-recipients-to-order-groceries-online-during-covid-19-pandemic More to come locally, but progress. |
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Over the last week, testing has continued to be discussed in New York as people consider how we can crush the curve even as we are seeing some evidence that we are starting to flatten it. Arlington County is continuing to work on testing even as we are a long way yet, as I see it, from the sort of testing and tracing we may need to have to consider changes to our stay at home policies. More to come, but Click below for the progress we have made.
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Many of you have asked about the digital divide in this moment as a big problem. The County announced some progress today on hotspots at the Central Library parking lot and the Columbia Pike Parking lot. This is a start, but it is important and low-cost internet options are also a focus for students that APS has been working on. If you have ideas on this, please email me.
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OK but Where do we Stand on PPE, Ventilators, Cases: Just Facts, please:
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As of today, we have 420 confirmed cases in Arlington and over 17,700 in the National Capital Region. Our health experts, Dr. Varghese and his Department of Health Team harp on focusing less on numbers than trends: we are showing signs of making progress in Arlington and Virginia in flattening the curve, but we must acknowledge community spread and the National Capital Region is seeing higher growth. Also, we are not isolated from the Region, so the region is a better metric. (Some slowing increase in Arlington, but more concern regionally, which is the better metric.)
On ventilators and beds, we have been relatively steady for the last few days as a region, which is the right way to think about it per Dr. Varghese. 2/3 of our hospital beds regionally have been occupied and 1/4 of our ventilators in use. All of that could change. We have contingencies should our progress not continue on hospital beds and ventilators. PPE we are doing fine on as well for those in need of it as medically determined, for now. We are monitoring this closely every day via our staff who are experts, not me as a recovering lawyer.
Our health experts are speaking daily with our nursing homes to make sure the care is as good as possible to slow spread there and minimize infections. There are no easy answers on this. Since it is public on ArlNow via the Department and through the Department of Health, I will say this once: we have seen 14 fatalities in Arlington. Even one is 1 too many.
Focusing on preventing the next is all we can do. The serenity prayer as I think of it is what comes to my mind and comforts me--control all of what you can, let go of what you cannot control, have the wisdom to know the difference.
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Our biggest need is medical and health personnel. Our health care workers, like my sister, are heroes to me. And the flattening of the curve is helping. But, staffing all of these facilities is not easy, so Governor Northam, Senator Adam Ebbin and many of us are asking for additional health care volunteers. You may be able to help if you don't have prior medical training. Click above.
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The Governor extended the closure of non-essential businesses until May 8th from April 23rd today. It is the right step as we must crush the curve to save lives, not just flatten it. The stay at home order through June 10th is still in place--this extends the business guidance. Click above to see the video: start 2:00 minutes in and watch the first 10 minutes to get a sense.
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When will this end?
Matt, are you thinking about 3 months, 6 months, 9 months from now?
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There has been much thought and speculation about when to open up. Our County Manager and the County Board are thinking about that, but health and safety now comes first. Here's what I think are good reads on this:
How can I make a difference?
Two links on how you can help:
How do I ask Questions and Learn more From the County Board?
Please click on the link below for information about the town hall the County will be holding Friday focusing in part on hunger response and your questions, which Katie Cristol and I will host Friday at 12 noon.
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Thank you again for your continued vigilance in staying home, covering your face when in doubt when out, and continuing our work to flatten and then crush the curve to minimize infections and save lives.
Serving and working through this with you,
Matt
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