Henrico has distributed more than 50,000 COVID-19 care packages

Henrico County officials have distributed to residents “well over” 50,000 care packages that include masks, Henrico Deputy County Manager for Community Affairs Monica Callahan told the Henrico Board of Supervisors during a work session July 14.

The county is still dispensing the free packages at all nine libraries in the county and currently has an inventory of 30,000, Callahan said.

As of July 13, more than 41,000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted on Henrico residents, and 2,836 of those tests came back positive, with 52 still pending. The county has witnessed 176 deaths related to the virus – all but 40 of which have occurred among residents of long-term care facilities. The county’s Jail West last week witnessed the expansion of an outbreak, with a total of 46 positive tests among 70 people who were in isolation together.

Callahan said that COVID-19 challenges the county is anticipating in the coming weeks include providing support to the jail to ensure that the outbreak is contained, supporting Henrico Schools with planning efforts for the fall, increasing access to testing, managing PPE inventory, and maintaining the county’s gradual and consistent reopening.

The county last week also launched a rental assistance program using CARES Act money. Henrico is using $360,000 in federal relief money to help prevent residents from living on the streets. Four payments of no more than $1,500 will be made on behalf of qualifying residents who are on the verge of losing their places of residence.

To learn if you are eligible, call 501-5294.

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