The VDH & Local Health District (LHD) Maintenance initiative focuses on implementing solutions to address facility maintenance needs that have impacted the Department’s ability to provide services that address COVID-19’s impact across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth’s residents who are served by the community-based clinics that are part of the public health system rely on the LHD facilities. Lack of appropriate facility upgrades, such as touchless technology for doors and restrooms and cold storage for vaccines, exacerbated the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on populations that rely on public health systems. This initiative focuses on employee safety and addresses maintenance needs in the LHDs and other VDH facilities. It will enable locations to comply with distancing and ventilation guidance to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

These projects will enable VDH to protect the health and promote the well-being of all people in Virginia, while simultaneously ensuring VDH employees are able to work in a safe environment that enables social distancing and COVID-19 prevention measures. The projects will support VDH’s employees, contractors, and volunteers in furthering the agency’s mission of making Virginia the healthiest state in the nation.

The following is a summary of progress made over the last three months, with more details provided later in this report:

• Continued workspace redesign work at the James Madison Building and Office of Environmental Health Services Norfolk Field Office

• Received delivery of vaccine cold storage equipment for LHD sites

• Completed card reader access control and continued progress of security camera installation at the Office of Vital Records

• Completed installation of teleconferencing equipment at the James Madison Building and two LHD sites as part of a pilot program. Delivered new camera equipment to four additional sites for immediate setup and use