Friends,

In this week’s newsletter, we have updates on Virginia’s reopening and vaccine rollout, reminders about the upcoming Democratic primaries, and a town hall invitation for tonight.

Virginia continues to reopen
This week, Governor Northam released the latest iteration of Executive Order Seventy-Two, which will go into effect on May 15th. These guidelines, accompanied by continued mask-wearing and social distancing mandates, include the following changes:

• Social gatherings: The maximum number of individuals permitted in a social gathering will increase from 50 to 100 people for indoor settings and from 100 to 250 people for outdoor settings.
   
• Entertainment venues: Indoor entertainment and public amusement venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity or 1,000 people, whichever is lowest, up from 30 percent capacity or 500 people. Outdoor venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity—up from 30 percent—with no specific cap on the number of attendees.
   
• Recreational sporting events: The number of spectators allowed at indoor recreational sporting events will increase from 100 to 250 spectators or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less. Outdoor recreational sporting events will increase from 500 to 1,000 people or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less.
   
• Alcohol sales: Restaurants may return to selling alcohol after midnight, and dining room closures will no longer be required between midnight and 5:00 a.m.

The full text of Sixth Amended Executive Order Seventy-Two and Order of Public Health Emergency Nine is available here. Updated guidelines for specific sectors can be found here.

Again, it is crucial to note that the Commonwealth will continue to adhere to a Safer at Home policy, with continued mitigation strategies like physical distancing, teleworking, and universal mask requirements. With more than half of adult Virginians having received at least one dose of the vaccine, the Commonwealth will continue to carefully ramp up the reopening of businesses and social gatherings in the coming weeks and months. We certainly have reason for hope and optimism, but we must also continue to remain vigilant.

Vaccination updates
Thanks to the hard work of scientists, doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, delivery drivers, and the Biden Administration, Virginia and the country at large are well on the way to achieving the necessary vaccination thresholds. I’m pleased to report that over 3.5 million people in the Commonwealth have received at least one dose of the vaccine; this number represents more than half of Virginia’s adults and 40% of the total population. Virginia has now administered more than 5.5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and is currently giving almost 77,000 shots per day.

As a reminder, individuals who are 16 and older are now eligible to receive their vaccine. Virginians can find and schedule appointments directly through Vaccinate Virginia, which has a searchable map-based tool to find appointments at Community Vaccination Centers, local health departments, pharmacies, and hospitals. You can also call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1).

Upcoming Democratic primaries: Make your plan to vote!
Early voting has begun for the Democratic primaries scheduled for June 8. Make your plan to vote now so that you know how and when to cast your ballot to choose candidates for the general statewide elections in November. Every vote counts, and it’s important to make your voice heard in this critical step before the General Election this November.

The deadline to register to vote in the primaries, or to update an existing registration is Monday, May 17. Be sure to check your voter registration and make sure it’s up to date. You can cast your absentee ballot in person at any point before June 8. A list of all Democratic candidates running in the primaries can be found here.

• Below are links to find your voting location by city or county:
• Richmond: www.richmondgov.com/registrar/VoterAtThePolls.aspx
• Powhatan: www.powhatanva.gov/311/Voting-Locations
• Chesterfield County: www.chesterfield.gov/707/Day-of-Election
• View Virginia's Citizen Portal to find your voting location

Tonight’s Town Hall: A focus on mental health
The COVID crisis has greatly exacerbated issues of mental health. Recent surveys, including those collected by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), show substantial increases in self-reported behavioral health symptoms.

In my office, we continue to focus on the issues of mental health, identification of concerning behaviors and symptoms, and the resources available to individuals and families in need. Please join me for a Town Hall focused on mental health and wellbeing TONIGHT, Thursday, April 29. I’ll be joined by Dr. Catherine Franssen, a neuroscientist and the Scientist in Residence at the Science Museum of Virginia. Our discussion will center around mental health concerns, the mental and emotional challenges brought on by the pandemic, and Dr. Franssen’s work with the Science Museum’s Mind Matters exhibit. I hope you can join us for what will surely be an illuminating conversation. You can RSVP here.

Contacting our office
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