COVID-19
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus.
The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.
-Fever
-Cough
-Shortness of breath
-Fatigue
-Muscle or body aches
-Headache
-New loss of taste or smell
-Congestion or runny nose
-Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
For information on COVID-19 vaccines, click here.
In response to the spread of COVID-19, Congress has passed multiple bills into law to assist individuals and small businesses with effects of this pandemic. H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the FY 2021 Appropriations legislation which included another pandemic relief package, and most recently the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Together, these laws dramatically expand critical financial lifelines for families, establish new benefits and protections for workers, create new tools for small businesses to meet payroll and other expenses, and provide relief for students and schools.
Additional information about the coronavirus from the CDC can be found here.
Additional information about the coronavirus from the Virginia Department of Health can be found here.
Additional information about the coronavirus from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can be found here.
Situation in Virginia
Everyone in Virginia age 12 or older is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine now. The Virginia Department of Health is responsible for the COVID-19 vaccine distribution throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Virginia Department of Health has launched a website that allows Virginians to easily register for the COVID-19 vaccine. Visit Vaccinate.Virginia.gov to get vaccinated now. For those that do not have internet access, please call 1-877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682) to pre-register for your vaccine. If you do not live in Virginia, you should visit Vaccines.gov
For a comprehensive list of actions Governor Northam has announced to combat COVID-19 in Virginia, visit virginia.gov/coronavirus.
In response to the spread of disinformation, FEMA has set up a webpage to help the public distinguish between fact and rumors in regards to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
IF YOU FEEL SICK with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, you should get tested for COVID-19.
If you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, follow the steps below to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and community. People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness. More information on what to do if you are sick with COVID-19 can be found here.
More on COVID-19
September 3, 2021
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 235,000 jobs in August as the unemployment rate fell to 5.2 percent. “Today’s jobs report demonstrates that the Biden-Harris economic agenda is delivering results, but the emergence of the Delta variant remains a serious challenge for workers and our economy. It is critical that federal, state, and local leaders do everything they can to promote vaccinations and implement evidence-based safety precautions that will protect the lives and livelihoods of Americans across the country.
August 19, 2021
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement in response to eight states banning schools from implementing mandatory mask policies to protect students, educators, and families from COVID-19. “As we begin another school year under the cloud of a pandemic, policymakers must be laser-focused on helping school districts reopen safely and stay open safely. Through the American Rescue Plan, Congress and President Biden delivered an historic $130 billion investment in K-12 education to help ensure school districts have the resources they need to safely return to in-person instruction.
August 16, 2021
Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Earlier today, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, convened a virtual roundtable with presidents and other officials from local institutions of higher education. The roundtable was a chance for college and university officials to discuss how they responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, how their institutions utilized federal funding made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan, and what challenges they still face in light of surging infections driven by the delta variant.
August 13, 2021
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Labor released updated workplace safety guidance for employers not covered under the Emergency Temporary Standard and additional guidance to protect workers from COVID-19. “The updated workplace safety guidance released today by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an improvement over previous guidance, but it still falls well short of the enforceable workplace safety standard that is necessary to protect workers from COVID-19. In April, OSHA determined that an Emergency Temporary Standard was necessary to protect workers from the grave danger posed by the virus
August 6, 2021
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration extended the pause on federal student loan payments and interest until January 31, 2022. In June, Chairman Scott and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a letter urging President Biden to extend the pause, which was set to expire at the end of September. “I applaud President Biden for providing desperately needed relief to federal student loan borrowers as we continue to fight the pandemic.
August 6, 2021
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 943,000 jobs in July as the unemployment rate fell to 5.4 percent. “Today’s jobs report continues to show that the American Rescue Plan is helping Americans get back to work. Since taking office, the Biden-Harris economic agenda has created more than 4 million jobs. Just last week, a comprehensive analysis found that our focus on supporting families throughout the pandemic has pushed the share of Americans in poverty to the lowest level on record.
August 2, 2021
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration released a School Reopening Roadmap to help schools reopen safely for in-person instruction. “Getting students back into the classroom safely is one of the most important things we can do for children and families across the country. I applaud the Biden Administration for issuing clear and comprehensive guidance to help schools reopen safely for full, in-person instruction this fall.
July 29, 2021
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, voted to pass H.R. 4502, FY 2022 Seven-Bill Appropriations Minibus – a package that includes the following seven appropriations bills: Labor, Health and Human Services, Education; Agriculture, Rural Development; Energy and Water Development; Financial Services and General Government; Interior, Environment; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs; and Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development. Congressman Scott secured critical funding for Hampton Roads as well as students and workers. “I was proud to support this legislation on the floor today,” said Rep. Scott. “The pandemic highlighted all the ways that our economy is slanted against middle class families in favor of the wealthy and well-connected. This funding bill will create jobs and grow opportunity for the middle class and working families while also protecting vulnerable communities. This funding bill is an important step in our work to build back better.”
July 28, 2021
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Bobby Scott released the following statement in response to Governor Ralph Northam’s proposal to dedicate $500 million in American Rescue Plan funding to help schools repair and upgrade ventilation systems, or complete other air quality projects. “I applaud Governor Northam’s proposal to dedicate additional American Rescue Plan funding to helping schools reopen safely and stay open safely. There is overwhelming scientific evidence that proper ventilation is essential to reducing the risk of COVID-19. Providing school districts the funding they need to improve air quality and repair or upgrade ventilation systems will go a long way to making classrooms safer for students, educators, and school staff.
July 13, 2021
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Education Department announced temporary changes to the federal student aid verification process for the 2021–22 award year. The temporary changes will provide relief to hundreds of thousands of students and thousands of colleges who may be facing challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Education Department’s decision to streamline the financial aid verification process is an important and sensible step to help students stay in school and complete their degrees.