Governor Northam says the Virginia Department of Health has created a special task force to help fight the spread of coronavirus in the state's nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
Dr. Laurie Forlano, Deputy Commissioner for Public Health at the VDH, says there have been 45 outbreaks in long-term care facilities leading to 525 cases of COVID-19 and 32 deaths. The task force will work closely with the facilities to make sure they have adequate supplies and staffing, while also increasing testing.
The Governor will ask the General Assembly to approve a Department of Corrections plan to speed up the release of inmates who have one year or less remaining on their sentences. Secretary of Public Safety, Brian Moran, says about 2,000 inmates could qualify for the early release plan.
The General Assembly will reconvene in Richmond on April 22 to take action on the more than 1,200 bills the Governor will sign by Saturday.
Northam says more than 300,000 Virginians have applied for state unemployment benefits over the past three weeks, including 147,000 just last week. The state has already paid out $57 million in benefits to 191,000 Virginians.
The additional Federal unemployment benefit program launches next week in Virginia and gig workers, temporary workers or the self-employed can now qualify for benefits. The VEC will be reaching out to 75,000 Virginians who were previously denied benefits.
More than 13,000 people have volunteered for the state's Medical Reserve Corps to help with staffing health care facilities. Anyone wishing to volunteer can visit VAMRC.org. The Corps will also be reaching out to medical and nursing students.
Northam says a data specialist will be available to the media on Monday to go over the models and forecasts used to help predict the surge in coronavirus cases in Virginia.
The Governor closed today's news briefing by saying, "I want to give all Virginians hope that we will get through this."
More on this story from our media partner, ABC 13 -WSET.