For Immediate Release: September 15, 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 the 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.
Wearing a mask when out in public remains one of the most effective methods to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but it can be difficult for those who have experienced trauma or have a medical condition. Anyone who has experienced assault, imprisonment, or trauma; has asthma or lung conditions; or struggles with claustrophobia, can find it physically and psychologically challenging to cover their nose and mouth. The City offers resources and tips for overcoming domestic and sexual assault-related mask anxiety. There are also many resources available for managing stress associated with masks, including breathing exercises and finding the right mask.
Food insecurity has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and many households continue to receive assistance from food distributions throughout Alexandria. The City received an anonymous $10,000 donation to support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Double Dollars program. This program allows SNAP customers to receive up to $20 toward eligible food products at participating farmers’ markets. SNAP Double Dollars helps vulnerable families stretch their food budgets and access healthier, locally grown foods, while supporting farmers’ markets. SNAP Double Dollars is accepting donations to help meet food needs in the community, boost the local economy and improve the lives of local families and farmers.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Alexandria is now 3,615. After its periodic review of Vital Records, the Virginia Department of Health has updated Alexandria's fatalities to 65. The three additional deaths all occurred in August. COVID-19 is spread by people whether or not they have symptoms, and AHD estimates that approximately 1 in 12 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. An estimated 40% of people who become infected never have symptoms, so it is essential to remain vigilant when you are around others. 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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