For Immediate Release: September 2, 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.
As the Labor Day holiday approaches, keep in mind that Virginia will remain in Phase Three of the Forward Virginia blueprint until further notice. When considering ways to celebrate the holiday, account for the guidelines under Phase Three. Event spaces should limit social gatherings to 50% of capacity to ensure that at least 6 feet of physical distance can be maintained among participants and staff. Bar seating and congregating areas in restaurants and bars will remain closed, and musicians must be at least 10 feet from patrons and staff. All businesses, including brick and mortar stores, fitness and exercise facilities, personal grooming services, should ensure that customers can maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance, frequently sanitize high-touch surfaces, and require that all employees and customers wear face masks at all times and post ample guideline signage. Swimming pools may be open to 75% capacity as long as 10 or more feet of distance can be maintained between households. Campgrounds may be open with gatherings of no more than 250 people, and hand washing or sanitizing stations must be made available. Entertainment and public amusements must also follow strict guidelines, which are explained in Frequently Asked Questions about Phase Three.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Alexandria is now 3,415, 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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