Virginia COVID-19 Cases Up Over 20,000

Happy Cinco de Mayo and welcome to today’s edition of the Dogwood. We’ve got a roundup of Virginia news coming right up.

But First…

Looking for ways to celebrate both Taco Tuesday and Cinco de Mayo in a socially distant fashion? If you’re in Richmond, try some of these local Mexican restaurants providing takeout and delivery options for the holiday. — WRIC

Five Things You Need to Know Today

1. Virginia Coronavirus Cases Reach Over 20,000- With an increase of 764 cases, Virginia currently has a total of 20,256 reported coronavirus cases, increasing by 4% since Monday. According to data from the Virginia Department of Health, 2,773 people have been hospitalized and 713 people have died due to the virus. So far, 127,938 people have been tested for coronavirus statewide, increasing by 5,150 since yesterday. — Dogwood
   
   
2. Three Norweigan Cruise Ships Dock at a Virginia Port- Three Norweigan cruise ships have docked at a Virginia port with minimal cruise members onboard due to restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic. Parked at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal, they arrived at the port in order to restock supplies and service their systems. They will remain in Portsmouth until the end of June, according to Port of Virginia officials. — ABC 13
   
   
3. Virginia Town Announces Layoffs During COVID-19 Pandemic- The Virginia town of Abingdon has stated that they’re laying off 13 full-time and 64 part-time workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, the town announced that the town manager reduced spending in response to revenue projections. Mayor J. Wayne Craig said that the town will also place a hold on non-essential spendings, like travel, training and equipment replacement. — WTOP
   
   
4. Virginia Hispanic Foundation is Accepting Donations to Help Students with Remote Learning- The Virginia Hispanic Foundation is collecting donations for the Passport to Education program, which aims to support thousands of Hispanic students struggling to meet their educational goals during the pandemic, especially those without laptops or tablets. If you have a laptop or tablet that needs a home, contact [email protected] for pick up or drop off locations. — WRIC 
   
   
5. Virginia Lottery Launches Site with Information on Casinos and Sports Betting- The Virginia Lottery has launched a website providing information on rule making and key timelines for Virginia consumers. The site includes information on required materials for eligible host cities and gaming partners that would potentially become homes to casinos. The casino legislation, passed earlier this General Assembly session, requires a comprehensive review of casino projects, including criminal and financial performance investigation. — ABC 13