Virginia Beach is working to help reduce the spread of coronavirus by providing hotel rooms to at-risk homeless people.

With a stay-at-home order in effect for Virginia and many surrounding states, there are empty hotel rooms all over the place. The city of Virginia Beach has been implementing the use of its empty rooms in an effect to help curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) by offering them to homeless people.

The focus so far has been on high-risk homeless people such as those over 58 and those older than 40 with chronic health issues. So far, 24 individuals have been placed in hotels in Virginia Beach.

Originally, the costs for this assistance were going to be covered by city emergency funds, but now state and federal funds will pay for them. The Virginia state government is now offering $2.5 million to localities around the state to help in providing shelter and assistance to at-risk homeless people. This emergency funding can be used for things such as for food, hotel vouchers, cleaning supplies, and other items.

According to a statement by Governor Ralph Northam’s office,

“People experiencing homelessness are more likely to have chronic health conditions that go untreated, and are among the populations most vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19.”

With most cases, COVID-19 causes mild to moderate symptoms like a fever or cough. In older adults and people with chronic health problems, however, it can lead to pneumonia and even death. As of Saturday, April 4, there are more than 2,400 confirmed cases and 52 confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in Virginia.

What do you think about this effort? Tell us in the comments!