Virginia Distilleries Can Now Deliver

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

But First…

2020 was supposed to be the year of the oyster for many Virginia oyster suppliers and restaurants. But the unexpected coronavirus pandemic has halted those plans as oyster farmers find their stock piling up with restaurants shuttered. – Virginia Mercury

Five Things You Need to Know Today

1. 2,800 Diagnosed with Coronavirus Statewide- Virginia currently has 2,878 cases of coronavirus statewide and 54 deaths. On Monday, Gov. Ralph Northam addressed the public on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. According to the Virginia Department of Health, 24,521 people have been tested, with 497 hospitalizations. Northam advised everyone to wear face masks and demonstrated wearing one at the press conference. He also thanked residents for staying home and abiding the stay at home order.   NBC Washington
   
   
2. ABC Allows Virginia Distilleries to Deliver Straight to Your Door- The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority will allow distilleries to ship booze directly to customers and licensed restaurants. The organization said it’s an effort to ease the economic pressures distilleries are facing during the pandemic. There are some restrictions, including that no distiller can sell more than six bottles of spirits to any one consumer or licensee per month.  NBC 12
   
   
3. Virginia Task Force On the Lookout for Coronavirus Relief Check Scams- Virginia officials warned residents to be alert for possible scams related to the coronavirus, specifically the $1,200 checks that many Americans will receive from the federal government. The Internal Revenue Service has set up a new state task force to combat epidemic-related fraud. Scammers might ask people to sign over their check or ask them to verify filing information in order to steal money. Dogwood
   
   
4. Virginia Provides Temporary Housing for the Homeless- Gov. Ralph Northam is putting $2.5 million from the state emergency fund towards providing temporary housing to the homeless during the pandemic. The funding will be used towards hotel/motel vouchers, case management, food, cleaning supplies and medical transportation. The Virginia Department of Health, with the Virginia Department of Housing, have provided shelters with guidance on how to service the homeless population during the pandemic. WRIC
   
   
5. Virginia Health Officials Find New Ways to Check Virus- Virginia health officials have expanded how they track COVID-19, and have found that the state’s estimated tally of confirmed cases could have been severely underestimated. The VDH only recently expanded its testing criteria to include people hospitalized with fever or lower respiratory symptoms, meaning more people can get tested. And potentially 25% of people with the virus might be asymptomatic. Virginia Mercury