COVID-19 Pandemic

Rep. Don Beyer’s COVID-19 Pandemic Resources & Updates For Northern Virginia

We live in trying times. In a few short months the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, ravaging communities throughout the United States. The historic public health crisis caused economic devastation worse than anything this country has seen in my lifetime. The Commonwealth of Virginia and the National Capital Region have been hit hard, as the confirmed case numbers and unemployment rate grow.

But though the news is grim, our resolve to do what it takes to overcome adversity remains strong. My parents’ generation survived the Great Depression and won World War II, and I firmly believe that with hard work, organization, and cooperation, we will get through this.

Do your part and help prevent the spread of coronavirus by sharing accurate information from the CDC, including prevention tips, and guidance on what to do if you are sick. I encourage you to call your doctor if you or someone you know begins to feel symptoms such as fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath (the uninsured can call Neighborhood Health at 703-535-5568).

The COVID-19 pandemic hit our region hard, and regional leaders are working to respond. As the situation develops, regional governments will communicate changes and updates via websites for the Governor of Virginia, the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, and Fairfax County.

Public health guidelines include washing hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, avoiding those who are sick, self-isolating if you show symptoms or come into contact with someone who is sick, disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces, and above all, STAYING HOME and making only essential trips outside the house.

On March 30, Governor Northam issued a stay-at-home order for the Commonwealth of Virginia to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which will remain in place until June 10. The State Department previously issued a global pandemic advisory against international travel, and WMATA has severely restricted public transit operations across the region.

WMATA customers are asked to wear face-coverings or homemade masks, and the CDC now recommends wearing masks in public spaces, and has issued guidance on making them.

Staying safe and well encompasses more than medical information, so here are additional resources to help everyone make it through this difficult period:

• Mental health tips from the CDC and the National Alliance for Mental Illness, Virginia
  • The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is staffed during the pandemic
• Suggestions on staying safe from the National Domestic Violence Hotline
• Virginia's one-stop shop for support and assistance including child care, food, and more
• COVID-19 Resources for Seniors
• COVID-19 Resources for Veterans and FAQ for Veterans
• Guidance on avoiding coronavirus scams from Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring
• Reducing Stigma
• Talking to children about coronavirus
  • Bonus: learning from home with the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress

Congress passed sweeping legislation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to fund the public health response, support workers and families, and protect jobs and small businesses:

• The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act
• The Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security [CARES] Act
• The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act
•  The House-passed Heroes Act, which has yet to receive a vote in the Senate
  

Congress is currently working on additional legislation; details will be posted here as they become available.

My office has compiled resource summaries for Northern Virginians to help navigate assistance available to them during this crisis:

• Financial Assistance, including information on direct payments, expanded unemployment insurance, expanded paid leave, information for federal workers, information for students, and updates on tax filing deadlines
• Support for Small Businesses, including the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. These temporarily frozen programs should resume lending soon.
  • Request a letter from me supporting your small business’ loan application
• Housing Assistance, including rent/mortgage forbearance and rules barring evictions (see also new information from Stay Home Virginia)
• Food Assistance to prevent hunger [please donate food to feed the hungry if you can!]

I am also helping craft Congress’ response to the pandemic and the resulting economic crisis, especially as Vice Chair of the Joint Economic Committee. Those efforts include:

• Designing widely-hailed, ambitious bicameral legislation to ensure make sure unemployment benefits keep flowing for the duration of the economic and public health crisis
• Envisioning Congress’ role in providing historic relief for workers and small businesses
• Pressing for sustained, expanded unemployment benefits for American workers
• Leading the charge to set up direct cash payments in past and future relief legislation
• Exhorting administration officials, lenders, and Congressional leaders to improve support for small businesses hurt by the pandemic
• Pushing Congressional leaders to support state and local governments, which face severe shortfalls as they lead the fight against the pandemic
• Seeking expanded telework options from OPM for federal workers,
• Seeking a suspension of evictions during the public health emergency [evictions remain suspended]

Protecting and supporting medical workers on the front lines has been a major priority for me from the beginning of this crisis. I feel profoundly thankful for the sacrifices medical professionals have made to keep our community safe. I have endeavored to support those efforts and strengthen the public health response by:

• Leading Congressional efforts to make sure public health professionals in our region get as much personal protective equipment (PPE) as they need
• Listening to medical workers to identify areas where improvement or assistance is needed
• Passing legislation to fund the public health response, create a Marshall Plan for hospitals
• Introducing a bill to make future coronavirus vaccinations free, which was included in legislation that passed into law
• Advocating for scientific and medical research funding in the CARES Act
• Pushing the CDC to be more transparent about testing capacity
• Introducing bipartisan legislation to boost testing innovation
• Leading Congressional oversight efforts to identify and correct weaknesses in the federal pandemic response
• Seeking expanded coverage for the uninsured via a special ACA open enrollment period
• Introducing legislation to compel the President to implement the Defense Production Act in order to increase the supply of vital medical equipment like ventilators
• Urging the Department of Homeland Security to strengthen COVID-19 airport protocols

You can support medical workers and the public health response by giving blood, heeding CDC guidelines for health professionals, donating PPE (for vendors approved by State Health Department), or volunteering medical services through the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps

I will continue to provide updates on this page describing what I and others are doing to fight this pandemic and support Northern Virginians. You can stay in touch by signing up for my newsletter, or following me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Please do not hesitate to contact me via email, phone at 202-225-4376, or at 703-658-5403 for constituent services.

We are all in this together, and with hard work and cooperation, we will get through it together.

With best wishes for your safety and good health,

Past Newsletters & Constituent Outreach:

• Coronavirus Update [February 28]
• Action On Coronavirus [ March 6]
• Teleconference featuring Fairfax Country Department of Health [March 10]
• Telephone Town Hall on Coronavirus [March 24]
• Next Steps On The COVID-19 Pandemic [March 25]
• Webinar on Small Business Relief in federal legislation [March 27]
• Emergency Relief [March 30]
• Webinar and Q&A with Non-Profits on federal relief legislation [March 31]
• Telephone Town Hall featuring City/County Managers of Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax County [April 1]
• Conference Call with Virginia Lenders to urge support for small businesses [April 2]
• Listening Session with Northern Virginia Medical Workers [April 15]
• Telephone Town Hall featuring Workforce Advisor to Gov. Northam, Small Business Administration, and U.S. Census Bureau [April 22]
• Web conference video call with Superintendents of Northern Virginia school systems [April 30]
• What Comes Next [May 8]
• Video conference call with local first responders [May 8] and sheriffs [May 19]
• I remain in regular contact with regional leaders