COVID-19 pandemic resource links, timelines, school schedules and long-term care facility reports

Below are November 30, 2020 updates on relevant information to the community, including online resource contact information; public and private school schedules into 2021; local long-term-care facility information; and mid-term (completion in the next 3-months) and long-term (over 3 months completion) schedules of county and town resources and relief funding distribution reporting:

MID-TERM (scheduled completion in the next 3-months)

10. Thermal Shelter:

1. The Thermal Shelter opened November 1^stat 7:00 pm, and will remain open until March 31, 2021.  Operational hours are 7:00 pm to 7:00 am, seven days a week at the Health and Human Services Complex – 465 W. 15^th St., Front Royal, VA 22630.  Phone is (540) 892-6108.

11. CARES ACT of 2020 (Emergency Coordinator) 

1. Overall project coordinator is Rick Farrall, Emergency Coordinator
   1. Warren County’s total (first and second) allocation is $7,008,308 (based on population)
   2. County to withhold $100,000 to fund Chamber of Commerce request and audit
   3. County to withhold $300,000 to fund WCPS for 900 distance learning devices
   4. Balance of $6,608,308 to be “equitably distributed” between County and Town

1. Warren County
   a. Allocation is $4,130,192 or 62.5% (estimated population of 25,000)
2. Town of Front Royal
   a. Allocation is $2,478,116 or 37.5% (estimated population of 15,000)
   v. All funds must be expended in accordance with section 601(d) of the Social Security Act outlined in the CARES ACT (and current CARES ACT guidance)
   vi. See above timeline regarding the “equitable distribution” (allocation) of CARES ACT funds
   vii. Applied for the Voter Registrar CARES ACT (COVID-19) funding $58,965 (6/30)

1. Treasurer.  Confirm receipt of funds, date – complete (o/a 8/21).

A County EM2 vehicle parked outside the WCGC in March as first round of local responses began coordinating with state directives. Royal Examiner File Photos by Roger Bianchini

LONG-TERM (scheduled completion over 3-months)

12. FEMA Emergency Protective Measures (Category B) Reimbursement (Planning Department)

1. Warren County.  Main lead is Taryn Logan, Planning Director
   i. All departments/staff send monthly expense update to Taryn NLT the last working day of each month
   ii. Approximate County expenditure to date is $475,000 (11/17)
2. Town of Front Royal.  Main lead is B.J. Wilson, Finance Director
   i. Approximate Town expenditure to date is $70,000 (10/14)

13. Long Term Care Facility Information (Emergency Coordinator)

1. As of November 24, 2020:  Addressing Census, COVID-19 cases, Other Issues, PPE, and Staffing:
   i. Commonwealth Senior Living – Nothing Significant To Report (NSTR).

1. Regular facility-wide testing; one staff member recently tested positive.
   ii. Fox Trails – NSTR.
2. PPS complete.  Staff is tested bi-weekly.  Residents tested monthly.
3. Conducting limited indoor visitation.
   iii. Heritage Hall – VDH reports an “outbreak” at the facility, effective 9/17/2020.

1. Weekly testing continues until the “outbreak” is over.  Test 11/16; all negative.  Latest test 11/23; awaiting results.
2. Admissions resumed on 11/20.
3. So far, 37 of 37 residents tested positive for COVID-19; 29 recovered, 9 attributed deaths. Eight staff tested positive; all recovered/returned to work.
4. There are no unmet needs at the facility at this time.
   iv. Hidden Springs – NSTR.
5. Testing residents as required with kits on hand.
6. Mandatory flu shots for all staff this year.
   v. Lynn Care – VDH reports an “outbreak” at the facility, effective 9/17/2020.
7. Weekly testing continues.  Last test was 11/16-17; all negative.
8. Currently, all residents and staff have tested negative.
9. Residents will only be tested (now) if symptomatic.
10. Note – CMS/State COVID-19 Survey completed; PPS complete.
    vi. Woods Cove – as of 11/16, one staff member that worked in the facility last Friday (11/13) tested positive for COVID.
11. All residents and staff tested 11/19; all negative.
12. Note – COVID incubation period ended o/a 7/31; PPS complete.
    vii. Shenandoah Senior Living – NSTR.
13. Testing continues for new hires and residents who leave/return to the facility.
14. Point Prevalence Survey complete.  Reporting staff is at minimum required level; trying to hire additional staff.
    viii. RSW Jail – VDH reports an “outbreak” at the facility, effective 10/19/2020.
15. As of 11/11:  Currently, the last inmate to test positive/symptomatic was on 11/11.  The unit the inmate is housed on is expected to clear on 12/9.
16. Note – all inmates/staff recovered from the COVID facility outbreak Friday, June 12; PPS complete.
    ix. Warren County Public Schools – NSTR.
17. Currently, 65 students absent with symptoms and 59 in self-quarantine.  Staff – 18 staff absent with symptoms; 15 self-quarantined.  To date, 3 students and 8 staff tested positive.

1. Distribution of four gallons of hand sanitizer to each facility is complete (4/27)
2. New PPE guidance to Assisted Living Facilities sent out (5/7)

Above, gone but not forgotten – the COVID-19 testing tent that was initially set up at Valley Health’s Outpatient facility in Front Royal off Commerce Avenue a block down from the WCGC. Testing has moved to Valley Health’s Outpatient unit outside of town in the Riverton Commons Shopping Center. Below, county numbers from Nov. 26 – 4 days later there were 71 additional cases and one death reported in Warren County.

LOCAL AND REGIONAL “PHASE THREE” TIMELINE:

17. Local and Regional “Phase Three” Timeline/Updates –

1. December 1:  County Finance.  Submit appropriations and transfers list to Deputy Clerk.
2. December 4:County Finance.  CARES ACT – NLT schedule CRF audit for late February 2021.
3. December 4 (T):  Courthouse.  Next scheduled jury trial; pending State Supreme Court approval.  Courthouse is currently fully operational.
4. December 8:  Warren County BOS.  Approve appropriations and transfers as appropriate.
5. December 11 (T):Fire and Rescue.  Tentative County staff occupation of the new Rivermont Fire Station 2.
6. December 11:  Planning Director.  Submit FEMA-B Grant Proposal to FEMA for related expenses through September 15, 2020.
7. December 18 (T):County Treasurer/Finance.  CARES ACT – NLT transfer CARES ACT funds to County and Town as appropriate (pending documentation as appropriate)
8. December 23:  Warren County Public Schools.  Holiday schedule begins.
9. December 30:County and Town Staff.  CARES ACT – end of qualifying expense period (began March 1, 2020)
10. December 31:Human Resources.  End of the Family First Care Act time period.

1. CALENDAR YEAR 2021:

1. January 4:  Randolph Macon Academy.  Students return from winter break.
2. January 4:  Warren County Public Schools.  Students return from holiday break.
3. January 4 (T):  Town of Front Royal.  Submit CARES ACT expenses (by category) to County for the time period 10/1/2020 to 12/31/2020 (complete).
4. January 5 (T):  Warren County.  Submit CARES ACT expenses (by category) to State Department of Accounting for the time period 10/1/2020 to 12/31/2020.
5. January 18 (T):  Christendom College.  Students return to campus for Spring semester.
6. February 18 (T):  LEPC.  The next scheduled meeting is at 3:00 pm at the Public Safety Building.
7. February 28 (T):County Finance/Auditor.  CARES ACT – NLT for internally funded CARES ACT fund audit to be complete (to be updated).
8. March 12:Commonwealth.  The waiver of 18.2-422 of the Virginia Code is scheduled to expire (face coverings in public)
9. TBD: Parks and Recreation facilities fully reopen.

COVID-19 INTERNET RESOURCES:

18. Impact Planning for Localities (COVID-19):

1. The below site produces a pretty neat Warren County graphic, if you haven’t seen it already.  It displays local hospital bed counts, population and business data, poverty information, etc.  The data appears to be fairly accurate.  Check it out here:
2. https://business.maps.arcgis.com/apps/
3. Just select the county/state in the upper right hand corner of screen, scroll down to Warren County and it will build a County graphic.
4. This is not an official government site, but provides local information for reference.

19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)(COVID-19):

1. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/

20. Virginia Department of Health (VDH)(COVID-19):

1. http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/surveillance-and-investigation.

21. Warren County (COVID-19):

1. https://www.warrencountyva.net/coronavirus, and the County of Warren, VA Facebook page

22. Town of Front Royal (COVID-19):

1. https://www.frontroyalva.com.
2. Local COVID-19 Helpline (non-emergency):  (540) 622-0555