Improve COVID data reporting
Norfolk Public Schools comes to the right decision, making case data known
After stonewalling requests for data, Norfolk Public Schools this week reversed course and said it would disclose positive COVID-19 cases to the public. It shouldn’t have been this hard to pry that information from a government entity, but the important thing is that it will now be available. That should be the case across the commonwealth when it comes to this vitally important public data.
One can understand, even sympathize, with the reluctance to be transparent here. Positive cases can reflect poorly on a school system, even one exhausting itself to keep everyone safe, and cause concern in a community.
But the unknown is where fear thrives. By being more open and transparent, it allows residents to know precisely what’s happening and make decisions accordingly. And as a public entity, that information — which doesn’t compromise personal health information since the individuals who test positive are not identified — should be readily available.
It’s frustrating that more than six months into this pandemic in Virginia, it’s still necessary to hound public bodies into releasing critical health data. Indeed, the lack of accurate and easy-to-understand data has complicated the public’s understanding and sown the seeds of doubt throughout the commonwealth.
So rather than chastise the school system for stonewalling initially, let’s applaud Norfolk for coming to the right decision and making that data known. Let that be a model to others who serve in the public trust.
Home for drones
As the military looks to expand its use of unmanned weapons systems, Hampton — and all of Hampton Roads — stands to benefit.
Case in point: Huntington Ingalls Industries, which owns and operates Newport News Shipbuilding, this week broke ground on the Unmanned Systems Center of Excellence near the intersection of Commander Shepard Boulevard and North Campus Parkway in Hampton.
The facility will employ about 250 people and, according to Daily Press reporting, will build drones of about 30 feet in length for the U.S. Navy. The new center will manufacture and assemble parts for Boeing as part of that company’s ORCA XLUUV program, which intends to produce extra-long unmanned subs.
Ultimately the site in Hampton will include two buildings — with construction of the first expected this year and the second in 2021— as part of a $50 million investment. That will be a boon to employment in Hampton and further solidify the region’s reputation as a leader in defense-related industries.
While diversifying the Hampton Roads economy should be a priority, it’s also important for the region to hold fast to those sectors which traditionally center our economy. This is one example, and an exciting development for the area.
Local debate
Norfolk State University will be on stage this week when Democratic incumbent Mark Warner and Republican challenger Daniel Gade take part in the second of three scheduled debates in their campaign for U.S. Senate.
More accurately, Norfolk State will provide the stage. The school will, for the first time, host a senatorial debate, to take place on Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m.
“Norfolk State University is the appropriate venue to have a debate about these topics. Our institution serves an important mission in the commonwealth of Virginia and it is fitting that we will serve as host during this crucial moment in our nation,” NSU President Javaune Adams-Gaston said in a news release.
The first debate, held on Wednesday, saw the two candidates clash on a variety of issues. Holding the next one at NSU should provide an opportunity for the men to dig into issues such as racial justice, policing reform and systemic racism — and how the Senate can work to address them.
The only unfortunate thing is that NSU won’t have a packed house for the event due to the coronavirus pandemic, but students — along with residents across the commonwealth — can watch the 90-minute debate, which will be broadcast over the air and available to stream online.