For Immediate Release: July 14, 2020
The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) remind everyone that you are safest at home. Older adults, persons with underlying medical conditions and pregnant women are at greater risk for severe disease and are advised to minimize potential exposures as much as possible. Please keep at least 6 feet of distance from others. Everyone is required to wear a face covering in most indoor public settings. Your neighbors and loved ones are counting on you to stop the spread of COVID-19.
AHD has sent new guidance to local property managers clarifying how Executive Order 63 on face coverings (masks) applies to residential buildings. Residents are required to wear masks in any indoor common areas such as lobbies, elevators, mailrooms, and laundry facilities. New evidence from the CDC continues to prove that consistent and correct use of masks over the nose and mouth can reduce COVID-19 infections. Learn more about when masks are required. Consider reporting violations on Virginia Department of Health’s online complaint form, or call Alexandria Health Department’s COVID-19 Hotline at 703.746.4988 weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (messages after hours, or on holidays and weekends will be returned the next business day).
The guidance from all health professionals regarding the COVID-19 pandemic consistently refers to how critical masks are to preventing the spread of the virus. Many of the signs and flyers produced by the City include a reminder to wear them, as well as how to wear them properly - over the nose and mouth together, without touching the front of the covering. Many of the signs produced can be downloaded and printed. If you find signs you would like for your business, office or home that are larger than you can print on your own, the City can print them for you.
A July 13 news release stated the number of sessions contributed by Alexandria Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers, instead of the number of hours. These community members actually volunteered 901 times from March through May, for a total of 12,435 hours, worth at least $332,631. This included nearly 500 volunteer sessions in May alone, for a total of 3,749 hours.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Alexandria is now 2,465, including 57 fatalities. Detailed data, including data on age, race and ethnicity, is available through links at alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus. The virus that causes COVID-19 is spread both by people who are symptomatic and by those who do not know that they are infected. Everyone is safest at home. This is especially true for those in high-risk populations (such as older adults, persons living in long-term care facilities, and those with serious underlying medical conditions). If you must go out, please maintain 6 feet of distance from others, wear a cloth face covering, and always carry hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol with you. Everyone must do their part to stop the spread.
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