COVID-19 in Virginia: LIVE updates for Wednesday, June 17

RICHMOND, Va. -- In an effort to provide accurate, easy-to-read information on the on-going COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on our community, WTVR.com will update this post with the day's local coronavirus headlines and statistics.

COVID-19 IN VIRGINIA (Scroll to bottom for U.S. stats)

Positive COVID-19 Cases: 55,775 (+444 from Tuesday)
People Hospitalized: 5,692 (+49 from Tuesday)
COVID-19-Linked Deaths: 1,583 (+13 from Tuesday)
Total Tests: 546,685 (+9,696 from Tuesday)

CITY/COUNTY-BY-COUNTY BREAKDOWN OF CASES (click here for updated numbers)

*NOTE: This data is provided from the Virginia Department of Healthdaily at 9 a.m. Officials said their cutoff for data is 5 p.m. the previous day. So your local health department may have issued an alert about a case before it is added to the statewide tally released the following day. Get latest charts and updated numbers from VDH here.

COVID-19 LOCAL HEADLINES

Virginia won't enter Phase Three reopening this week
Virginia will remain a Phase Two coronavirus reopening, Governor Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. After two weeks at the Phase Two level, the earliest Virginia could have entered Phase Three was Friday. The governor said Virginia would remain in Phase Two despite the fact "our numbers continue to look favorable." Read more.

State health officials tipped off to hundreds of COVID-19 mask violations
The Virginia Department of Health COVID-19 hotline has received 755 complaints related to COVID-19 mask violations since May 29. Roughly one-third of those complaints, according to VDH spokesperson, involve food and beverage establishments not following mask rules. Read more.

2nd Street Festival and the Richmond Folk Festival canceled due to COVID-19
Two of Richmond’s biggest festivals, the 2nd Street Festival and the Richmond Folk Festival, have been canceled due to COVID-19, Venture Richmond announced Tuesday. Read more.

Chesterfield daycare worker tests positive for COVID-19
A daycare worker in Chesterfield County has tested positive for COVID-19. In an email, the Childcare Network notified families of a possible COVID-19 exposure at the school, located at 8210 Walmsley Boulevard, off Hull Street. Read more.

100 more COVID-19 patients discharged from Virginia hospitals
More than 100 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from Virginia hospitals in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA). Read more.

50 more COVID-19 patients discharged from Virginia hospitals
Nearly 50 additional COVID-19 patients have been discharged from Virginia hospitals in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA). Read more.

New COVID-19 outbreak reported Sunday
Data show 226 (+1 from yesterday) outbreaks at long-term care facilities with a total of 5,530 COVID-19 cases and 879 deaths. That is up 62 cases and 4 deaths from the previous day's report. Read more.

Richmond enters second phase of 'the new abnormal'
Restrictions on businesses, gyms, and churches were relaxed in Richmond as the city entered Phase Two of reopening. Read more.

Richmond, Chesterfield address disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Hispanic, Latino communities
Richmond City and Chesterfield Health Districts are collaborating to expand outreach and services to Hispanic and Latino communities who may be disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Read more.

Virginia health department data Friday includes negative COVID-19 tests backlog
Health department data released Friday shows an additional 44,661 tests processed because of a previous backlog of negative PCR tests, officials said. Read more.

Henrico grab-and-go meal distribution moving to summer schedule
Henrico County Public Schools’ “grab-and-go” meals distribution service will move to a summer schedule Monday, as will its mobile technology hubs and an information hotline designed to help families during the coronavirus pandemic. Read more.

First responders, volunteers drop off PPE to vulnerable in Petersburg
Thousands of people who live in Petersburg received COVID-19 protection Friday thanks to a city-wide initiative. Read more.

Northam announces phased approach for school reopening
Governor Ralph Northam unveiled a phased reopening approach for preK-12 schools in Virginia.

“We know parents want to know what to expect this summer and in the fall, to be clear, all Virginia schools will open for students next year, but the school experience will look very different,” said Northam at a Tuesday press conference. Read more here.

Don't miss the Virginia Together Fund virtual concert Friday night
Rayvon Owen, Jay Baxter, Mighty Joshua, Rodney Stith, and others will perform a virtual concert Friday night to help raise money for the Virginia Together Fund. The fund is helping Central Virginia families whose lives have been altered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.

COVID-19 test numbers are about to jump in Virginia, here's why
If you follow the numbers closely, you may notice an uptick in Virginia's COVID-19 testing numbers in the coming days. While factors like phased reopening, Memorial Day gatherings, and crowded protests may play a role in an increase of positive tests, the Virginia Department of Health has made the community aware of another factor that will result in the number of total test results going up. Read more.

Richmond mayor tests negative for COVID-19; will get retested after marching
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney has tested negative for COVID-19 Saturday, but that he will get retested because he joined demonstrators in a march for justice Tuesday.
"I'll be getting tested again after marching this week, and I encourage anyone who has participated in the protests to do the same," Stoney said. More here.

RPS staffer tests positive for COVID-19; elementary school will shift to curbside pick-up
After a Richmond Public Schools employee tested positive for COVID-19, food distribution at an elementary school will switch to curbside pick-up next week out of "abundance of caution," school district officials announced Saturday. More here.

Doctor's warning after COVID-19 delays some women's mammograms
"There's no such thing as a socially distant mammogram,” Dr. Priti Shah, Director of Breast Imaging at VCU Health, said. More here.

150 more COVID-19 patients discharged from Virginia hospitals
More than 150 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from Virginia hospitals in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. More here.

New COVID-19 outbreak reported in Virginia
Health officials are investigating 391 outbreaks of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, according to Virginia Department of Health (VDH) data released Sunday. More here.

Restaurants seat diners indoors during Phase Two: ‘Like a game of Tetris'
Friday marked the first time in months since Virginians were served a meal indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most of the Commonwealth entered Phase Two of Governor Ralph Northam’s plan to slowly reopen the state. The City of Richmond and Northern Virginia remained under Phase One due to a rise in coronavirus cases. More here.

Restaurants ready to welcome back customers as Virginia enters second phase of reopening
As most of Virginia readies to enter the second phase of Virginia's reopening Friday, many restaurants, gyms and other businesses are gearing up to welcome customers into their establishments for the first time since March. More here.

Richmond, Henrico Health Departments release safety recommendations for protesters
The Richmond and Henrico Health Departments have released safety recommendations for those partaking in protests during the COVID-19 pandemic.More here.

How to find work during COVID-19 pandemic: 'People are still hiring'
some employers are still hiring during the global health pandemic. Here are some tips for finding works from experts. More here.

WTVR

Virginia Together Fund: Help families impacted by COVID-19
CBS 6 is announcing the creation of The Virginia Together Fund -- a partnership with Feed More and Mission From the Heart.
More here.

Dad teaches science lessons by making dinosaurs fly
Dinosaurs are soaring through the air once again! At least, they are at 5-year-old Finn Thomas’s house. More here.

'Virginia Graduates Together' will salute class of 2020 with musical performances, speeches
Governor Ralph Northam and First Lady Pamela Northam will celebrate the commonwealth’s graduating seniors during a statewide virtual celebration. More here.

'Role model' high schoolers start innovative online education program for younger students
Life is anything but normal for school kids across Virginia. Many have struggled to keep up with distance learning, but four Maggie Walker honors students are helping through Project EngageRVA. More here.

Deep Run robotics team creates PPE
Deep Run High School’s Team 1086 Blue Cheese Robotics team had its winning 2020 season cut short because of the coronavirus. However, the group quickly pivoted and found a way to re-channel efforts to help the community. More here.

Free science kits help Richmond students learn at home
An educational nonprofit called Blue Sky Fund is distributing 1,500 free home science learning kits for students at Richmond Public Schools. Those kits are being handed out at Richmond Public Schools' meal distribution sites. More here.

Virginia woman hands out scholarships to high school seniors: 'They’re going to make it'
"It’s just my way of giving back to the community and helping young people because they need some encouragement. They need motivation," said Tracey McMillon. More here.

Virginia State Parks opening more beaches for recreation activities
Virginia State Parks’ tidal beaches are now open for recreation activities while inland lakefront beaches remain closed. More here.

Inside the Facebook Group guiding thousands of Richmond diners
In these uncertain times, people can take comfort in advice and guidance from others. That includes ideas on where to eat. More here.

New Richmond restaurant owner asks for help: 'We used our life savings'
A new Richmond restaurant is asking for help. Subconscious Cafe, located in the Fan, was forced to close days before its planned Grand Opening. More here.

Virginia Beach reopens, but it will be far from a normal day at the beach
If you’re hoping to use the Memorial Day weekend to swim, surf, sunbathe, or fish, you’re in luck. The Virginia Beach Oceanfront was set to open -- with restrictions -- on Friday. More here.

COMPLETE COVERAGE: COVID-19 HEADLINES (App users, click here for complete list.)

LATEST COVID-19 U.S. AND WORLDWIDE STATS