Rachel Walker has lived in Norfolk, Virginia, since 2013 and is an assistant golf coach for a local university.
The former Calside Primary pupil told the Dumfries Courier that the state of Virginia has moved into phase three of the Governor’s ‘Forward Virginia” plan. It means that non-essential retail businesses are able to open fully, restaurants can open for indoor service and gyms and recreation facilities are allowed to have a 75 per cent capacity, as well as entertainment venues at 50 per cent capacity.
Rachel added: “Although this phase is still encouraging teleworking and staying at home, it also allows for the state to return to a “somewhat” normal feeling. The mandatory use of masks in public is still in effect. While everything is slowly opening back up, I still limit myself to working from home and only leaving the house for exercise and to go to the grocery store.”
As of Wednesday this week, there were a total of 67,375 Covid-19 cases in the commonwealth of Virginia – which is an increase of 635 cases overnight. The city of Norfolk where Rachel currently resides has a total case count of 1194, a hospitalised count of 119 and death count of 14.
Rachel also stated that Black Lives Matter protests and demonstrations continue to take place nationally – although at a much more organised level. She added: “Earlier this week a peaceful protest took place on Virginia Beach Oceanfront that was organised by a group in our surrounding cities called ‘BlackLivesMatter757’. Over 200 protesters marched the streets near the beach in an attempt to raise awareness to the ongoing problems we have in society today – racism and police violence.
“Many people have taken to social media worldwide to stand with the Black Lives Matter social media movement in the hopes to raise even more awareness and in the hope that something changes soon for the better. Racism is not something that should still be, or ever be, an issue in today’s world and it’s about time everyone is educated and we put a stop to it.”
