NO FANS, BUT GOLD CUP’S A GO SATURDAY: Preview, Page 10
June 24, 2020 | Vol. 19, No. 26 | www.princewilliamtimes.com | 50¢ Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.
Local nursing homes report at least 55 COVID-19 deaths By Daniel Berti and Jill Palermo
Rashid, Connolly, Gade advance to November By Daniel Berti
Times Staff
After refusing to do so for months, Virginia officials on Friday released information about COVID-19 outbreaks in specific nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the state, revealing that the virus had claimed the lives of at least 55 residents of such facilities in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park. The information, posted on Virginia Department of Health’s Coronavirus website for the first time, showed that 11 long-term care facilities in the local health district reported COVID-19 outbreaks from March 27 through May 16. The data show the outbreaks have resulted in 416 local cases of COVID-19 and at least 55 deaths. The numbers represent only about 4.8% of the health district’s total cases of COVID-19, which stood at 8,510 on Friday, but at least 36% of the health district’s 152 deaths. It’s not clear how many total deaths resulted from outbreaks at the 11 local long-term care facilities because the state is suppressing fatality information for facilities that had fewer than five deaths. As a result,
Times Staff Writer
TIMES STAFF PHOTO
Birmingham Green, a Manassas nursing home and assisted living facility for low-income seniors, reported 33 deaths and 132 cases of COVID-19 among residents in nursing care. only four of the 11 facilities are shown with fatalities. Birmingham Green, in Manassas, reported the highest number of residents lost to COVID-19 among local long-term care facilities with 33 deaths. Birmingham Green also reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases among its nursing care patients: 132. See NURSING HOMES, page 2
‘This is home!’
Hilda Romero hugs a fellow activist after they received news that Prince William County’s 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would expire June 30. The program has led to the deportation of 579 inmates from the local jail since 2018, ICE said. PHOTO BY JILL PALERMO
Latino advocates cheer jail board’s move to end 287(g) By Daniel Berti and Jill Palermo Times Staff Writers
There were cheers, hugs, tears and celebratory chants outside the Prince William courthouse June 17 when immigrants-rights activists heard the result of a nearly two-hour jail board debate on the fate of the county’s controversial agreement with federal immigration officials. Huddled around a portable speaker connected to a cell phone, the group listened as Sheriff
See PrinceWilliamTimes.com for coronavirus updates
Glen Hill asked the 11-member jail board, which conducted its meeting via Zoom, for a motion to extend the jail’s 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement beyond its June 30 expiration date. When none came, Hill announced that the program, in place at the jail since 2007, would expire June 30. See 287(g), page 9
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Democrats Qasim Rashid and Rep. Gerry Connolly -- and GOP Senate candidate Daniel Gade -- came out on top in Tuesday’s primary elections, while Manassas residents picked three Democratic candidates to run for city council this fall. It was an unusually slow day at the polls as voters cast their ballots in the Democratic and Republican primaries. People trickling in to vote amid the pandemic were met with a now familiar sight: hand sanitizer, plexiglass shields and recommended social distancing – public health precautions taken by the Prince William County Office of Elections. The polls closed at 7 p.m., and all the races in Prince William County and Manassas were called by 9:30 p.m.
Connolly fends off challenger in 11th District
Qasim Rashid
Gerry Connolly
Daniel Gade
Connolly easily won in the 11th District, capturing more than 70% of the vote. His opponent Zainab Mohsini, a political newcomer, received about 30% of the vote. As of 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Connolly had tallied 17,653 votes compared to Mohsini’s 7,477. Connolly spent $1 million this election cycle compared to $12,000 spent by Mohsini, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Mohsini said earlier in the day that her campaign’s message of racial justice and equality had resonated with area voters in recent weeks. Mohsini said that those issues “have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis and the protests” that have flared up in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Connolly has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2008. Prior to running for federal office, Connolly served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 1995 until 2008. Connolly was chairman of the board from 2003 until he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rashid narrowly wins 1st District race
Qasim Rashid narrowly defeated Vangie Williams in the 1st District primary. Williams conceded shortly after 9 p.m. Rashid will now face Rep. Rob Wittman, the Republican incumbent, in the November general election. See ELECTION, page 6
Opinion.................................................9 Puzzle Page..........................................8 Real Estate..........................................11 Sports.................................................10
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