Northam Announces All Virginia Beaches to Reopen on Friday

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

But First…

While drinking at home may not have been good for our livers or waistlines, it may have improved the state’s treasury. Despite Virginia’s budget shortfall due to the pandemic impacting tax revenue, excise taxes collected from state-run liquor stores are improving. — WTOP

Five Things You Need to Know

1. Virginia Coronavirus Cases Rise by 1,000 Since Yesterday- There are currently 41,401 reported cases of coronavirus in Virginia, an increase of 1,152 or 3% since yesterday. There are 4,442 people who have been hospitalized and 1,338 people who have died due to COVID-19. According to the Virginia Department of Health, 285,273 people have been tested for the virus statewide. — Dogwood 
   
   
2. Northam Announces All Virginia Beaches Can Reopen on Friday- Gov. Ralph Northam announced in a press conference that the rest of Virginia’s beaches may reopen for sunbathing and other activities this Friday. Nearly a week ago, Northam gave the go-ahead to Virginia Beach to reopen. The governor encourages the state’s other beaches to use Virginia Beach’s plan as a model to follow. — Daily Press
   
   
3. Virginia Releases Daily Antibody Test Numbers and Results Online- Virginia has begun releasing data showing how many people have been tested for coronavirus antibodies and how many tests came back positive. Antibodies, which are blood proteins produced by the immune system, may offer protection from future infection in spite of having any symptoms or not. Nearly half of the commonwealth’s antibody tests have been in Northern Virginia. — NBC
   
   
4. CVS Will Open 39 Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Locations in VA- CVS Health is set to open 39 new drive-thru COVID-19 testing locations across Virginia. According to the company, the self-swab tests are free and will be covered by a program funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. Drive-thru test sites will also be accepting insurance. CVS has been determined to establish over 1,000 locations nationwide since April. — WRIC
   
   
5. Housing Advocacy Groups Mass Evictions on the Horizon if the Freeze isn’t Extended-  The Virginia Poverty Law Center is calling on Gov. Ralph Northam to issue an executive action to temporarily freeze evictions again in the state. The non-profit wrote a letter to the governor asking to stop eviction until September 1 or until the or until the federal eviction moratorium in the CARES Act ends. According to the VPLC, the federal freeze on evictions protects less than half the people in the state. — Dogwood