Virginians Demand a Rent Freeze in Wake of Coronavirus

Welcome to today’s edition of the Dogwood Daily. We’ve got a round-up of all of today’s Virginia news coming right up.

But first…

With the entire state mostly on lock down, celebrating personal milestones, like birthdays, can be difficult. But this Roanoke family didn’t let that stop them from celebrating in a creative way. The Butterfield family celebrated five-year-old Winnie’s birthday with a fun, indoors scavenger hunt. – WSLS

Five things you need to know today …

1. Over 200 New Cases of Coronavirus, 1,255 Statewide- Virginia now has 1,255 positive cases of coronavirus. There are approximately 229 new cases of the virus, including the first cases in Surry, Brunswick and Waynesboro counties. Twenty-nine people in the state have died due to the novel coronavirus. According to the Virginia Department of Health, 13,041 people in the state have been tested. – WSLS
   
2. Virginians Rally Together to Demand a Rent Freeze Amid Coronavirus Pandemic- Dozens of protesters gathered in Richmond to demand a “rent freeze” due to the coronavirus pandemic that caused thousands to lose their jobs. While the Supreme Court of Virginia has extended an emergency eviction freeze, landlords are still allowed to begin the eviction process. Gov. Ralph Northam’s office said that he does not have the authority to issue a rent freeze. – WRIC
   
3. Virginia is Set to Transition to Renewable Energy- The General Assembly passed a suite of bills that aim to move Virginia to using more renewable energy. The new laws make it easier for customers to choose energy efficient options like solar and wind farms. Northam has signed several bills already and has until April 11 to sign the others or send them back to the General Assembly for amendments. – Virginia Mercury
   
4. Two ABC Stores Will Reopen after Closing for Coronavirus Cases- Two Virginia ABC stores are reopening after COVID-19 cases caused the stores to close. An ABC store in Richmond, located on 1217 West Broad, closed after a roommate of an employee tested positive for the virus. A Virginia Beach store closed due to an employee tested positive, but the employee did not return to work after feeling sick. The Richmond store is set to open on April 1, while the Virginia Beach will reopen April 3.  – NBC 12
   
5. Bon Secours Furloughs Employees Not Working Directly on COVID-19 Response- Health system Bon Secours announced that it has temporarily furloughed employees who are not working directly on the coronavirus COVID-19 response. Approximately 700 employees across seven states have been furloughed, which is expected to last 30-to-90 days. Employees will be paid for work through April 3, then will be able to take paid time off hours until depleted. Affected associates are eligible for unemployment benefits. – NBC 12