Over the past two and a half months, this podcast has been an attempt to capture the response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Virginia, and in the Charlottesville area. Most of the show to date has brought you soundbites from Governor Ralph Northam at his regular press briefings. This one is no exception, but except for news about Phase 2, the subject matter is entirely related to racial inequities in Virginia and what the administration plans to do. Speakers include Delegate Delores McQuinn (D-70), Shirley Ginwright, Albemarle High School rising senior Niquel Perry, Pastor Kelvin Jones,Jim Bibbs, Chief Deputy Attorney General Cynthia Hudson, and Dr. Janice Underwood. Underwood is the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for the state of Virginia. There's also a small snippet from Monday's webcast from Dr. Cameron Webb and Dr. Taison Bell.

This edition of the show recaps the past week of gubernatorial briefings as well as as an interview put together for the show by the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. Mary Davis Hamlin interviews Frank Dukes of the Institute for Engagement and Negotiation at the University of Virginia.

You now have to wear a mask inside businesses in Virginia, according to Executive Order 63. On Tuesday, Governor Northam addressed photographs that showed him without wearing a mask last weekend at Virginia Beach. On Thursday, there was more information about masks, economic development and more.

As we approach the beginning of June, we have enough time to look back on where we’ve been through these last few weeks. Today’s show takes a look at what two food-related agencies have been doing during the pandemic. The show begins with a summary of Governor Ralph Northam's May 22 press conference where he talked about testing, a future announcement on mask requirements, and the importance of Memorial Day.

The main focus of the show is the two interviews with local non-profits. Sean Tubbs speaks with Portia Boggs of the Local Food Hub about their drive-through farmers markets and the Fresh Farmacy program. Then Michael McKee, CEO of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, talks about how his organization has been helping to feed the hungry during this time of crisis.

While there has not been a new episode in a week, I have been recording new material and lining up interviews. For many, life seems to be getting back to a new kind of normal, but we're still in the middle of a state of emergency that was declared ten weeks ago.

Today's show takes a look at the May 20 press briefing by Governor Ralph Northam, where his comments covered health care in Virginia to how Northern Virginia might come out of Phase One of Forward Virginia. I also talked to David Plunkett, the director of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. Even though branches have been closed, JMRL has been doing their part to support the community through digital services and by preparing for curbside service to begin on Tuesday, May 26.

On this 33rd episode of the program, leaders from Northern Virginia explain why they are not ready to begin Phase 1 of Forward Virginia and will instead remain at Phase Zero for another two weeks. Governor Ralph Northam's Executive Order 62 outlines the reasons why. Northam takes questions from reporters on testing and more.

The gradual reopening of Virginia to more in-person commercial activity may be slower in Northern Virginia due to higher rates of COVID-19. Leaders there have urged Governor Ralph Northam to proceed slowly. This edition of the show summarizes Northam's May 11, 2020 briefing. Later on in the show, we’ll hear from Dr. Cameron Webb and Dr. Taison Bell, two doctors at the University of Virginia.

This week, Virginians will learn whether trends in community health data will allow the gradual reopening of businesses to begin. This is the Charlottesville Quarantine Report for May 11, and this edition is entirely free of Governor Northam. Instead we drop in on the most recent town hall hosted by the Thomas Jefferson Health District. We also feature a long piece about how one Charlottesville High School student has used this time for some personal growth.

This episode of the Charlottesville Quarantine Report features audio clips from Governor Ralph Northam's May 8, 2020. That's when details of Phase 1 of Forward Virginia were unveiled. What can open? What can't open yet? Can you get your hair cut? What about church? What if you have to go back to work, and don't feel safe?

So many questions, and this installment has some of the answers. We also drop in on the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission meeting to find out what elected and appointed officials throughout the region are up to.

The focus of this episode is purely from Governor Ralph Northam’s press briefing on May 4, 2020, where he announced that progress has been made. Some details of Phase 1 of Forward Virginia are outlined.

This episode summarizes the May 1, 2020 press briefing by Governor Ralph Northam at which he learned more about increases in testing capacity and whether Virginia yet has enough of a workforce in place to do the extensive contact tracing needed to track further infections. You'll hear from Dr. Karen Remley as well as Dr. Norm Oliver. She was Virginia's Health Care Commissioner from 2010 to 2013, a position now held by Dr. Oliver.