For Immediate Release: August 12, 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 mask in most indoor public settings. Your neighbors and loved ones are counting on you to stop the spread of COVID-19.
AHD was featured in an NBC4 news segment about contact tracing, how it works, and what to expect if you are contacted. The August 11 story spells out the process, illustrates the importance of contact tracing as a tool to help stop the spread of COVID-19, and describes resources offered to people who are required to quarantine as a result of close contact with an infected person.
In order to prevent confusion regarding different state requirements for vehicle registrations, safety inspections and emissions inspections during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has suspended local enforcement of these requirements through October 31, 2020. This follows the City's prior suspension of enforcement, from mid-March through July 19, of the requirement to display a valid state safety inspection sticker while parked. Any parking tickets that were issued by the City for safety inspection violations after July 19 will be automatically voided, and any payments will be automatically refunded by October 16. For more information about tickets or payments, visit the City's website.
Motorists should check the state links above to determine which requirements pertain to their vehicles and may still be subject to state enforcement. Safety and emissions inspections remain available, and the City encourages vehicle owners to stay current on inspections while following COVID-19 guidelines like staying 6 feet apart from others, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, and washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Vehicle registrations may be renewed online.
The nonprofit organization ALIVE! is providing food at two distributions points this week:
Thursday, August 13: Food Distribution at Charles Houston Recreation Center Parking Lot (901 Wythe St.). In coordination with the meal distribution of Washington Street United Methodist Church, Royal Restaurant, ARHA, and the City of Alexandria, ALIVE! will distribute bags of shelf-stable groceries, produce, and bread from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Drive-through and walk-up service will be available.
Saturday, August 15: Truck-to-Trunk at Cora Kelly (3600 Commonwealth Ave) and John Adams Elementary (5651 Rayburn Ave.) parking lots. ALIVE! Truck-to-Trunk will distribute food from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., in the parking lots at Cora Kelly and John Adams Elementary Schools. This distribution includes bags of shelf stable groceries, fresh produce, and eggs, while supplies last. People are encouraged to drive through.
Attendees are encouraged to drive through whenever possible for contactless distribution; however, walk-ups are welcome and should maintain 6 feet of physical distance, wear a face mask, and bring carts or reusable bags to carry food home. Food may not be consumed at any site.
Looking for available child care options? On Wednesday, August 19, the Alexandria Emergency Child Care Collaborative and Smart Beginnings Alexandria are hosting an online event to showcase current child care programs available in the city. The event, scheduled for 7-8:30 p.m., is free, but registration is required. A Zoom link will be provided. For more information, email robin.crawley@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.5927.
Beginning Sunday, August 16, Metro will add more trains and hours of service. This increase will restore most service to pre-COVID-19 levels while still maintaining a strong response to the pandemic. Metrorail opening hours will return to normal and closing times will be extended by two hours in anticipation of potential increases in ridership after Labor Day, and Metro expects to reopen several stations on the Orange and Silver Lines. To support overnight workers, Metro will double Lyft discounts during hours when trains and buses are not available. Eligible workers may apply to receive the discount. Beginning Sunday, August 23, Metrobus will offer more buses, running more frequently, to restore approximately 75% of pre-pandemic service. Most routes will return to operating close to normal weekday service, and will run an hour later, until midnight.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Alexandria is now 3,014, including 60 fatalities. COVID-19 is spread by people whether or not they have symptoms, and AHD estimates that nearly 10% of infected Alexandrians have required hospitalization. Everyone must do their part to stop the spread: maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others, wear a mask, and carry and use hand sanitizer. With a recent increase in cases, you are more likely to encounter someone who is infected. Be prepared to answer a call from the Alexandria Health Department in case you are identified as a close contact. Detailed data, including data on age, race and ethnicity, is available through links at alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus.
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