🌱Roanoke COVID-19 Updates + Former Postal Worker Pleads Guilty

Roanoke VA

30 November, 2021

4:43 PM

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Hello, neighbors! Nicole Fallon-Peek here with a fresh edition of the Roanoke Daily. First, today's weather: Some sunshine. High: 57 Low: 46. Here are the top stories today in Roanoke: Yesterday, a former postal employee, Derek Jamar Hewitt, 34, admitted to taking packages from a processing center in Roanoke where he worked, opening them, and in one case removing the marijuana he found inside. Hewitt was arrested on March 31, 2020, as part of a surveillance operation launched after postal officials became suspicious about the handling of parcels that passed through the Rutherford Avenue processing center. (Roanoke Times)The Virginia Department of Health has established a network of testing sites across the state that will monitor wastewater for evidence of COVID-19. Virginians will also have access to this data. Public health officials believe the new network will also help them look for the presence of COVID variants. (WDBJ7) Officials say COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 500 in the past week for the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts. Health officials say that about 20% of new cases are in children and 50% of new cases are in those younger than 35. (WSET)Health officials in Roanoke and New River valleys are cautioning against panic over the new COVID variant omicron. (Roanoke Times) Today's Roanoke Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at GoodRx — the best way to save money on your prescriptions. GoodRx helps you locate the lowest prices for medications at local pharmacies, so you're not overpaying. Works for pet medications too! To see how much you can save, go to GoodRx.com. Today in Roanoke: 30th Annual Legislative Meeting & Breakfast (7:30 AM) Quickbooks Training Class (9:00 AM) School Board Work Session - Roanoke County (3:30 PM) You can get your local business featured here in the Roanoke Daily for just $79 per month. Click here to learn more. Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with another update! If you're into these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe. — Nicole Fallon-Peek About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.