Hope is on the horizon, friends!

The recently approved COVID-19 vaccine is truly a blessing at the end of an extremely difficult year. This holiday season, I’m thankful for the frontline workers, medical professionals, and all those who’ve put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe and operating.

As we look towards 2021, we must recognize that the coronavirus still presents a danger to us all. The same day frontline workers across the country received the first doses of the vaccine, we reached a grim milestone — more than 300,000 American lives have been lost to COVID-19.

Wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining social distancing are still our most effective tools to fight viral spread until the vaccine is shared with everyone. Here is information on Governor Northam’s updated COVID-19 guidelines for Virginia and highlights from some of the community events I’ve had the pleasure of attending in recent days.

Updated COVID-19 Guidelines (Effective December 14)
Governor Northam announced the following updated COVID-19 guidelines to enhance protections for our Commonwealth as we look to the new year with renewed hope:

Modified stay at home order: All individuals in Virginia must remain at their place of residence between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Exceptions include obtaining food and goods, traveling to and from work, and seeking medical attention.

Universal mask requirement: All Virginians ages five and older are required to wear face coverings within indoor settings occupied with other individuals, outside of their own household, and when outdoors within six feet of another person. This order expands the current statewide mask mandate, which has been in place since May 29. These changes are consistent with new CDC guidelines, released December 4, which recommend universal wearing of face coverings.

Reduction in social gatherings: All social gatherings must be limited to 10 individuals, down from the current cap of 25 people. Social gatherings include, but are not limited to, parties, celebrations, or other social events, regardless of whether they occur indoors or outdoors. This does not apply to religious services, employment settings, or educational settings. Restaurants and retail stores are already governed by strict social distancing requirements and they are not included in this limit.

Continued limits on dining establishments: Virginia restaurants are currently governed by strict social distancing and sanitization requirements, and these guidelines remain in place. The on-site sale, consumption, and possession of alcohol remain prohibited after 10:00 p.m. in any restaurant, dining establishment, food court, brewery, microbrewery, distillery, winery, or tasting room. All restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, and tasting rooms must close by midnight.

Teleworking: Employees who can telework are strongly encouraged to do so.

Vaccine update: If the FDA approves emergency authorization today, Virginia is prepared to begin vaccinations in 24 to 48 hours, following the recommended protocols.
Days ago, in the United States, a COVID-19 vaccine finally began making its way through communities starting with frontline workers and the most vulnerable members of our society.

As we wait for vaccine production to increase, we must remain vigilant. I implore all Virginians to adopt these safety precautions and to follow the Governor’s new guidelines.

Recent community events
As we approach the holiday season and the new General Assembly session, I have been meeting with and speaking to a wide variety of constituents, advocacy organizations, community and civic partners. Here are just a few recent highlights:

Snowflake Soiree: I was pleased to join the Chesterfield County Democratic Committee and other state and federal elected officials to thank the hard work and resiliency of so many volunteers and organizers who have championed issues such as quality education, healthcare access, and voting rights for decades. Their energy and enthusiasm are extraordinary.

The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors and Powhatan County School Board Meeting: Thank you so much to the Board of Supervisors and the School Board of Powhatan County for inviting me to attend their joint meeting last week. It was tremendously helpful to hear about the County’s legislative priorities, and I look forward to supporting the measures that the Supervisors and Board members highlighted.

Jewish Federation in Richmond Reception: I look forward to this annual event each year, and even though it was virtual this year, the reception brought together legislators and members of the Jewish Federation to hear concerns about policies and issues that impact the broader Jewish community in Virginia. It was especially meaningful to join the group members on the eve of the start of Hanukkah.

Chesterfield County Police Academy for Legislators: I especially appreciate the opportunity that Chesterfield County provided for legislators to learn about the policies, procedures, and training provided for our police officers. The session was informative and detailed. Chesterfield County’s extensive support and resources for its law enforcement officials are well-executed, and I appreciated the insights that the officers and staff shared.

Chesterfield Legislative Delegation Board of Supervisors Meeting: This meeting with the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors highlighted the legislative priorities for the County for this upcoming 2021 General Assembly. I and my fellow-representatives also received a thorough overview of the ways in which the pandemic impacted our county resources and the ways in which county officials worked to address these impacts.

Virginia Drives Electric: On Tuesday, I joined fellow legislators in a Town Hall focused on transportation and electrification concerns. Hosted by Generation180 and several other organizations, this engaging conversation highlighted the steps Virginia has already taken to make electric transportation accessible, cost-efficient, and reliable. We also discussed the future of electric vehicles in Virginia, and their economic and job-growth benefits for the Commonwealth.

As always, if you need assistance, or if you want to schedule a Zoom or phone call with our team, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. Email is the best way to contact us. We can be reached at [email protected].

-- Ghazala Hashmi



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Senator Ghazala Hashmi was elected to represent Virginia Senate District 10 in 2019. She has led efforts in the General Assembly to support education, protect healthcare and the environment, and prevent gun violence. Senator Hashmi is committed to ensuring Virginia's government works for everyone.


 












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