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Warner, Gade Focus on Health Issues in Final Debate | Virginia News

October 14, 2020

By ALAN SUDERMAN, Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia and his Republican opponent, Daniel Gade, sparred over how best to respond to the coronavirus and other health care issues Tuesday in their third and final debate.

The televised event, sponsored by the AARP, focused heavily on the pandemic as well as issues important to seniors, like prescription drug prices and the Affordable Care Act. Warner, a former governor, cast himself as a trusted problem solver.

“The truth is, what I’m counting on most, is that Virginians knows me,” Warner said.

Gade, a first-time candidate and retired Army officer who lost a leg when his Humvee was blown up in Iraq, offered himself up as an energetic fresh face unafraid of special interests.

“One you look at my personal history, you’ll know this: I will never quit when things are hard,” Gade said.

Warner

Virginia governor critical of Trump’s coronavirus response in first appearance since testing positive

October 14, 2020

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About 65 staff members who had close contact with the Northams were told to self-isolate for two weeks. Northam said none tested positive, which he called “a testament” to the value of wearing masks.

He noted that masks protected several staff members who could not physically distance from him before he tested positive, including a press secretary, photographer and security detail who traveled in an SUV and airplane with Northam.

He contrasted that with the largely mask-free Rose Garden ceremony last month that Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, has called a superspreader event. Trump, first lady Melania Trump and several others subsequently tested positive for the virus.

“No masks, no social distancing — and look at the number of people that tested positive,” Northam said Tuesday, referring to the White House event. “We talk about science, it doesn’t get any clearer than that . . . I

West Virginia health system again enacts no-visitor policy

October 12, 2020

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia health system is again banning visitors from its hospitals as community spread of the coronavirus increases in the region, network officials say.

Mountain Health Network announced Monday that most visitors will not be allowed in its medical centers, including at St. Mary’s in Huntington, one of the largest hospitals in the state, news outlets reported.

Essential caregivers will be allowed for patients in labor and delivery, in the pediatrics unit and in the neonatal units, officials said. Patients nearing the end of their life also will be allowed limited visitors, according to a statement from the system.

At urgent care centers and emergency rooms, only one patient will be allowed in an exam room, though a parent or guardian can accompany minors.

The policy was first enacted in March as the virus began to spread, but it was lifted in June with

Community Transmission Extent Remains Low In Northern Virginia

October 11, 2020

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VIRGINIA — On Sunday, 811 additional coronavirus cases and four deaths were reported in Virginia. The cumulative case total is 158,716, while 11,519 people have been hospitalized and 3,358 have died.

Most of the regions moderate community transmission, according to the VDH Pandemic Metrics Dashboard on transmission extent. Here is the outlook for the regions in the week ending on Oct. 3:

Northern: Low community transmission, decreasing trend
Northwest: Moderate community transmission, fluctuating trend
Eastern: Moderate community transmission, decreasing trend
Central: Moderate community transmission, decreasing trend
Near southwest: Substantial community transmission, fluctuating trend
Far southwest: Moderate community transmission, fluctuating trend

Across Virginia, 2,256,820 PCR tests have been completed, an increase of 18,616 from Saturday. The statewide positive average of PCR tests stands at 4.6 percent as of Oct. 7.

According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, there are 924 current COVID-19 hospitalizations across the state. That includes 201 patients

As movement grows to reduce police involvement in mental health crisis calls, Virginia legislators try to figure out a statewide model | Local News

October 11, 2020

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A photo of Marcus-David Peters is displayed at the Robert E. Lee statue’s base on Monument Avenue in Richmond.

Del. Jeff Bourne, D-Richmond, (center) speaks during a public event in Richmond about legislative issues involving Virginia’s General Assembly.

Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, gestures during a legislative session at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.

Princess Blanding, the sister of Marcus-David Peters, who police shot and killed in Richmond in 2018, talks to reporters on May 17, 2018.

Marcus-David Peters had just left his job teaching high school biology and arrived at his second job at a hotel, where he worked as a security guard, when he apparently began to experience a mental health

Dozens of COVID-19 cases reported at 2 veterans care centers in Virginia

October 10, 2020

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Dozens of COVID-19 cases have been reported at two veterans care centers in Virginia.

The Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center in Richmond has 49 cases impacting 39 residents and 10 staff, the Virginia Department of Veterans Services said Friday.

The Virginia Veterans Care Center in Roanoke has 62 COVID-19 cases among 43 residents and 19 staff, the department said.

PHOTO: Virginia Veterans Care Center in Roanoke, Va. (virginia.gov)

“The residents are on separate wings at the veterans care centers to isolate them from other residents, while the employees are at home in self-isolation and under the care of their personal health care provider,” the Department of Veterans Services said in a statement. “Residents, family members, and staff have been notified of the positive cases.”

MORE: 2 former leaders of Holyoke Soldiers’ Home charged in COVID-19 deaths

The Richmond facility has 170 residents total while the Roanoke facility has

Virginia health district changing name to reflect commitment to inclusion

October 7, 2020

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A health district in Virginia announced Tuesday that it will be changing its name at the beginning of the new year in order to reflect its commitment to inclusion.

Effective January 2021, the Thomas Jefferson Health District will become the Blue Ridge Health District.

The district says this will further its commitment to ensuring that its public health services are “inclusive and welcoming” to everyone in the community.

VA HEALTH DEPT., GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY WORKING ON CONTACT TRACING AFTER GOV. NORTHAM TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

“Changing our name is symbolic of the deeper work we are doing as an organization to create an inclusive, equitable environment for our staff and clients and to acknowledge and address the impact of racism on health,” district director Dr. Denise Bonds said.

The name also aligns with other health districts in Virginia that are mostly named after regional geography, the health district said.

‘DAILY

Virginia Tech discusses its mental health initiatives

October 6, 2020

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BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – Virginia Tech’s mental health task force found that addressing the mental health and well-being of students, faculty and staff is more than just an on-campus issue.

The university held an online conversation with leaders from their mental health task force.

“So immediately our task force realized that, you know the typical age of our students is in the sweet spot of where their mental health concerns may manifest themselves. It’s important for us to realize that,” said Chris Wise, the assistant vice president for Student Affairs.

The group found more students are reporting depression and anxiety before they get to college, making it more than just a campus issue.

“So it actually looks like an increasing wave coming to the university rather than suddenly students come here and begin to have a lot more mental health problems,” said Laura Hungerford, the department head for Population Health

New Cases Above 1,000 For Second Straight Day In Virginia

October 4, 2020

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VIRGINIA — On Sunday, the Virginia Department of Health reported 1,067 new coronavirus cases, the second day of cases being above 1,000 since Sept. 18. The seven-day average of new cases has been below 1,000 since Sept. 18 and now stands at 818. The cumulative numbers of the COVID-19 pandemic in Virginia stand at 151,870 cases, 11,221 hospitalizations and 3,273 deaths.

The northern region led the state Sunday with 268 new cases, followed by the southwest region with 242 cases, eastern region with 237, central region with 184, and northwest region with 136.

However, data on positive rates of tests shows Northern Virginia has the lowest average. The seven-day averages of PCR tests by region are 6.2 percent in the southwest region, 5 percent in the northwest region, 4.7 percent in the eastern region, 4.4 percent in the central region. 4.2 percent in the northern region. Statewide, the positive average

Virginia Senate debate sees Warner, Gade clash on Trump, race, health care

October 4, 2020

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Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and his Republican challenger shared the debate stage Saturday night in their second meeting ahead of Election Day in Norfolk, Va.

Warner and Republican challenger Daniel Gade, a wounded Army veteran turned college professor, sparred over the economy, health care, coronavirus relief, and other issues at Norfolk State University, a historically Black university (HBCU). It was the first U.S. Senate debate hosted at the 85-year-old institution.

Many of the questions asked of the two White candidates involved racial disparities.

Early on, they were asked about President Trump’s comments on a deadly, racially charged Charlottesville incident in 2017 and his handling of a similar question during Tuesday’s presidential debate in Cleveland.

“The president badly fumbled that question … and he badly fumbled it in the Charlottesville case as well,” Gade said. “I disavow racism, I disavow white supremacy, and it has no place in our