For Immediate Release: June 26, 2020
The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) remind everyone that you are safest at home except for essential trips such as food purchases and medical care. If you must leave your home, you are required to wear a face covering when inside buildings. Please keep at least 6 feet of distance from others whenever possible. Your neighbors and loved ones are counting on you to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated and expanded the list of who is at increased risk for getting severely ill from COVID-19. Consistent evidence has shown that specific conditions increase a person’s risk of severe COVID-19 illness at any age, including chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obesity, weakened immune system from a solid organ transplant, serious heart conditions, sickle cell disease, and type II diabetes. The CDC also amended the list of other conditions that might increase a person’s risk of severe illness, including additions such as asthma; high blood pressure; neurologic conditions such as dementia; cerebrovascular disease such as stroke; and pregnancy. Among adults, the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. If you are an older adult, take extra precautions to protect yourself from infection.
The City has released a series of animated videos to help communicate the role everyone plays in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The first video, Six Steps to Stop the Spread ( Amharic | Arabic | Spanish ), explains the vital steps to reducing the spread of COVID-19. Another video in the series addresses all the preventive measures to take when you are sick ( Amharic | Arabic | Spanish ), and how to prevent spreading the virus to friends, coworkers, and loved ones. The last video offers a variety of resources for those in need of help ( Amharic | Arabic | Spanish ) during the pandemic. Whether it’s food, health care, substance abuse, child care or other needs, there is support available.
The City is expanding opportunities for restaurants, retail businesses and fitness centers to operate outdoors. Retail businesses may request the use of sidewalks, on-street parking spaces and privately-owned parking lots and spaces to display their products and conduct sales. Similarly, fitness and health businesses may request the use of privately owned parking lots and spaces to offer classes and provide access to fitness equipment. Interested businesses should contact the Department of Planning & Zoning to request the correct form for their business zone. Requests must be reviewed by the City prior to setting up the alternative areas for outdoor dining, retail display, and sales and fitness business use. There is no fee for these requests. The programs are in effect until August 27 and may be extended or shortened upon future notice.
ALIVE! will distribute food to those needing assistance during the pandemic on the last Saturday of each month. Drive-through and walk-up options will be available from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., or until supplies run out, in the parking lots of Cora Kelly and John Adams Elementary Schools. In order to observe no-contact distribution and physical distance requirements, drivers must remain in their cars and walk-ups must stand at least 6 feet apart and wear face coverings.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Alexandria is now 2,287, including 56 fatalities. This represents the Virginia Department of Health’s ongoing review of death certificate data, and does not represent a recent, sudden spike in COVID-19 related fatalities. Fatalities are added to Alexandria’s count on the date they are reported, not on the date of the death. The six most recent fatalities to be added to Alexandria’s count actually occurred in April and early May.
Detailed data about COVID-19 in Alexandria and Virginia is available through the links at alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus. It is important to note that there is still community transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 and everyone is safest at home. If you must go out, remember to keep 6 feet of distance from others; wear a cloth face covering, especially when inside public spaces; wash hands frequently; and always carry tissues and hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol with you.
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