Supervisors Margaret Angela Franklin, Victor Angry, and Andrea Bailey sent a letter to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) on Monday urging for better multi-lingual outreach and more resources to communities of color to combat COVID-19. 

Recent data from the VDH shows that the Woodbridge District zip codes 22191 and 2193 have the highest COVID-19 positive tests in Virginia. Further, of the recent deaths reported by the Prince William Health District, 47% of COVID patients were African American. 

The letter requests funding to provide personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer for essential workers, including employees of small businesses that have remained open and employees of ride sharing companies. These employees are at a greater risk of exposure to COVID-19 due to their work in the service industry. Additionally, the letter pushes the VDH to prioritize additional testing sites to these districts and to develop a plan by the end of the month to ramp up testing across the board.

“Across the Commonwealth, the Route 1 corridor has seen the greatest impact in COVID-19 positive tests,”  said Franklin, Chair Pro Tem of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. “My priority is to take care of our most vulnerable residents, including our service workers and at-risk populations. Therefore, our county must provide personal protective equipment to service industry employees and essential employees. Minority populations overwhelmingly occupy essential jobs/positions and are at greater risk due to several demographic health factors.”

Studies have shown that minority communities are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 due to healthcare disparities.

“We have seen the unwavering heroism of the essential workers who keep our county running every single day. It is now our turn to take necessary steps to protect these crucial members of our community” said Angry, Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors.

Franklin and Bailey were both elected in November. They are the first two Black women to serve on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, and Angry, who was elected in April, 2019, is the first Black man elected to the position.