There will be plenty of time later for pointing fingers of blame regarding who should have done what in the battle against the COVID-19 virus. In the meantime, many Virginians are doing remarkable things in a time of crisis. Entrepreneurial creativity, community spirit, and a can-do attitude will help get us through. Some heartening stories:
From vodka to sanitizers. The Chesapeake Bay Distillery in Virginia Beach makes vodka, gin and tequila, but their local restaurants market is shutting down. Talk about turning on a dime. The owners have a big supply of alcohol in storage. So the distillery has shifted to the business of creating hand sanitizers and disinfectants. Kudos to Virginia ABC for signing an order allowing the firm to make the switch. WTKR has the story.
Raising funds for nonprofits. The Williamsburg Community Foundation has started an emergency fund to provide flexible grants to nonprofit organizations providing services to residents in the community. Williamsburg Vice Mayor Doug Pons and Councilman Benny Zhang on Thursday personallyl pledged $10,000 to start the fund, reports WYDaily.
From guns to cans. Citing Governor Northam’s restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 people, a Nelson County militia muster has canceled its muster and opted instead for collecting canned foods and registering volunteers for the Nelson County Food pantry. So reports the News & Advance.
UVa Health develops own tests. Amidst the national shortage of COVID-19 testing kits, the University of Virginia Health System has developed its own tests and begun performing them. The health system started performing about 20 tests per day two days ago and hoped to ramp that up the number to 80 per day this weekend. A national shortage of nasal and upper throat swabs remains a potential constraint. Dr. Amy Mathers and laboratory director Mendy Poulter began the work weeks ago when it first became obvious there was a national shortage of critical reagents. Their endeavors were supported by “an immediate outpouring of donations,” reports UVA Today.
Readers, if you spot stories of Virginians doing positive, uplifting things, please forward them to me at jabacon[at]baconsrebellion.com.
— JAB
