SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The Western Tidewater Health District is also moving to phase 1c of COVID-19 vaccinations.

The district includes Suffolk, Franklin, Southampton County and Isle of Wight County. Portsmouth also moved to 1c on Friday, and Chesapeake and Virginia Beach moved to 1c earlier this week.

1c includes more essential workers, including:

  • Energy:  Electric industry, petroleum industry (including gas station workers), natural gas industry, and renewable energy
  • Water, wastewater, and waste removal:  Water and utility, recycling removal, plumbers
  • Housing and construction:  Hotel (traveler accommodations), HVAC technicians, hardware stores and similar retail stores, housing construction, house painters, electricians, housing and real estate services
  • Food Service:  Restaurant (servers and back of house)
  • Transportation and Logistics:  Shipyard, maritime, welcome center, road construction industry, air traffic controllers and TSA, airline pilots, flight crews, airline ground crews, airport personnel, car retail and repair
  • Institutions of Higher Education:  Faculty and staff
  • Finance:  Insurance carriers and related activities, accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services
  • Information Technology and Communication:  Internet/cell phone technicians, workers responsible for infrastructure construction or restoration, data center operators
  • Legal Services:  Workers supporting operations of the judicial system, including lawyers and others providing legal assistance. (Note: judges and judicial workers are included in the “Continuity of Government” group in Phase 1b.)
  • Public Safety: Engineers, emergency communication centers
  • Hair Stylists:  Barbers, stylists, hairdressers

Those pre-registered for the vaccine will be contacted by the health department to schedule their appointment.

More coverage: New community vaccination center opens in Portsmouth; 1,000 doses a day on the way

Related: All Virginians 16 and older will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine by April 18, Northam says

For more information on the vaccine, visit WAVY’s vaccination page.