For Immediate Release: September 1, 2020
The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) remind everyone that you are safest at home. Older adults and persons with underlying medical conditions 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 over both their nose and mouth at all times in most indoor public settings. Use Virginia Department of Health’s COVIDWISE app to be quickly and anonymously notified of likely exposure to the virus. Your neighbors and loved ones are counting on you.
Misinformation can often spread faster than a virus. AHD urges everyone to follow credible sources of information such as the City's COVID-19 data dashboards and news releases, daily updates from the Virginia Department of Health, and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The City provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions, about COVID-19 and AHD’s COVID-19 Hotline is available at 703.746.4988 on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Everyone has a role in stopping the spread of rumors and inaccurate information as well as COVID-19.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended its Free Meals for Kids program through December 31. As a result, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) will continue providing free meals to Alexandria students without the need for a Digital Meal Pass until January 1. All Alexandria children 2-18 years old will continue to have access to meals via ACPS food distribution and pop-up sites through the fall, regardless of their paying status. Recipients do not need to be registered ACPS students to qualify for food. Families who have already received their ACPS Digital Meal Pass or family PIN should keep them until they are needed. Visit the Virtual PLUS+ Food Access web page for more information, including a complete list of meal distribution locations and times and instructions for how to register for the Digital Meal Pass.
The City’s Sexual Assault Center is hosting an eight-week virtual support group for survivors of sexual assault beginning October 2. During a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk for sexual assaults increases and may happen at higher rates. Support groups offer a safe, non-threatening setting for survivors to talk with others who have experienced the same trauma. Register by September 15.
The Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program supports housing stability during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing financial assistance for rent or mortgage payments for eligible households. This includes financial assistance of rent or mortgage payments that became past due April 1, 2020 or later. Financial assistance is a one-time payment, with an opportunity for renewal based on availability of funding and the household need for additional assistance and continued eligibility. The City developed a flyer that includes “ Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief” terms of eligibility, required documentation and application instructions. Along with a variety of other materials, the flyer is available in the online resource catalog and is easy to download and print.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Alexandria is now 3,395, including 62 fatalities. COVID-19 is spread by people whether or not they have symptoms, and AHD estimates that nearly 9% 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 over both the nose and mouth, and carry and use hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethyl alcohol. 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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