Friend,

Last week, Governor Northam granted my request to exempt Richmond from the planned Phase One reopening based on our increasing case percent positivity ratio. Now, I am collaborating with state and local officials to ramp up the city’s efforts to support a safe approach to reopening with five key objectives in place:

1. Expanding testing capacity
I plan to significantly expand testing capacity in the city. Richmond City Health District (RCHD) will organize community testing events three times per week, with a continued emphasis on making testing accessible to priority communities with higher vulnerability to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Collaborating with safety net
The city will be collaborating with members of the local safety net to facilitate access to primary care, and RCHD will invest in professional navigation services to match residents with providers and other needed supportive services.Ensuring a connection to a primary care provider for all residents who test positive for COVID-19 is critical to helping Richmonders monitor their symptoms and manage any underlying conditions.

3. Providing protective supplies
To flatten the curve and protect our neighbors, we need to expand access to protective supplies, such as face coverings and sanitizer. Everyone should be wearing a cloth or disposable face covering whenever in public places or visiting an essential business. In collaboration with the state, the city will distribute 40,000 units of protective supplies. The city will also provide 500 units to each member of Richmond City Council to distribute in their district.

4. Supporting small businesses
I am calling on federal leaders to modify the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program and support Senator Cory Booker’s Small Business Local Relief Act. This bill would send $50 billion in direct assistance to localities and states to support relief for small businesses.

The city partnered with Feed More so small businesses had the opportunity to donate their food and be reimbursed for any purchases made before our exemption from Phase One.

5. Utilizing our space productively and safely
Once we can safely enter into Phase One, the city will collaborate with small businesses to expand patios for safe outdoor dining. I have also sent a request to members of Richmond City Council and their staff to coordinate with local merchant and neighborhood associations to propose equitable opportunities for open streets, pedestrian-friendly spaces, and expanded patios with room to maintain social distancing.

This plan focuses on the things we can control – widespread testing, providing and normalizing face masks, supporting small businesses, and innovatively using the space at our disposal to promote social distancing. When we reopen, it will be done safely. It will be done equitably. And it will be rooted in the hard work of the next two weeks.

Stay home and stay strong,

Levar Stoney


P.S. Countless organizations are working hard every day to support our community during this crisis. If you are able, your support right now will make a huge impact:

• Frontline Foods: [link removed]
• The Community Foundation for Greater Richmond: [link removed]
• The Holli Fund: [link removed]
• Red Cross Blood Bank: [link removed]






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