Today’s burst of information begins with a message from a fundraiser called C'ville STEM: Support Schools in COVID times. UVA doctors have teamed up with schools and want your financial support for school scientific supplies for up to 2,100 children in City Schools.
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The Virginia Department of Health is reporting another 663 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth today, the lowest one-day total since in a month. The total is now 100,749. One more death was reported for a total of 2,327. The seven-day average for testing has dropped to 7.4 percent today. There are another 11 cases reported in the Thomas Jefferson Health District with four from Albemarle, one from Charlottesville, three from Greene, one in Fluvanna, one in Louisa and one in Nelson.
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The latest model results from the UVA Biocomplexity Institute states that fourteen of Virginia’s health districts are experiencing surges of COVID-19 cases, but the surge in the Rapidan-Rappahannock Health District has abated. The statewide reproductive rate for the novel coronavirus is below, but is 1.174 in the Near Southwest area that includes Roanoke. The model estimates that 817,000 cases of COVID-19 have been avoided since May 15.
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There are four community testing opportunities this week. First, UVA Health will hold an event from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m at the Church of Incarnation at 1465 Incarnation Drive. No appointment is required. UVA Health will hold another event Tuesday at Mount Zion First African Baptist Church at 105 Lankford Avenue from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both of those events will be held every week.
On Wednesday, the Thomas Jefferson Health District will hold a testing event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Grace and Glory Lutheran Church at 683 Thomas Jefferson Parkway in Palmyra. An appointment is necessary and can be obtained by calling 434-972-6261. The TJHD will hold another event on Thursday in Scottsville at the Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. An appointment is also necessary. (testing site info)
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University of Virginia officials will hold a town hall on Zoom tonight aimed at members of the community. Last week, UVA President Jim Ryan announced that classes would be delayed for two weeks. He made a promotional video last week that sought to explain why they will proceed.
“We know that this carries some risk, but there are risks regardless of what decision we make, including staying online all semester,” Ryan said. “There are risks for some students for whom UVA is the safest place to be, or who may face challenges learning online at home. There are risks for our employees whose jobs depend on having students on Grounds. We also know that roughly two-thirds of our students live off Grounds and outside of University housing which means thousands of students are going to be living in Charlottesville regardless of whether classes are held or not.”
The Zoom Town Hall meeting will be held at 5 p.m. and has a maximum of 3,000 attendees. Register here.
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Albemarle County will launch a new website today, replacing one that is nearly twenty years old. A promotional video was released last week to help people navigate the new site. The old site will be archived and made available for public use.
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All year, events that celebrate parts of our community have had to be cancelled, including the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council’s annual gala in May. However, the organization plans to hold a virtual gala one month from now on September 10. They’ll hand out awards such as Startup of the Year, Innovator of the Year and Job Creator of the year.
August 10, 2020: UVA to brief Charlottesville community; Testing sites this week