For Immediate Release: October 7, 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. To stop the spread of COVID-19, everyone ages 10 and older must wear a mask over their nose and mouth in indoor public places and when at least 6 feet of physical distance cannot be maintained between those of different households in outdoor public places. Learn more about the state order and City ordinance requiring masks, including exceptions. 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.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published updated information about the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 for adults and children with certain conditions. Data show that adults are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 if they have a body mass index of 30 or higher; smoke or have a history of smoking; or have underlying conditions such as cancer, heart conditions, Type 2 diabetes, or compromised immune systems. Other conditions that may increase the risk for severe illness to adults of any age include asthma, high blood pressure, pregnancy, and neurologic conditions, such as dementia. Children are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 if they have conditions such as asthma, diabetes, severe genetic disorders, and inherited metabolic disorders. However, it is not yet known who is most at risk for the rare but serious complication from COVID-19 called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). The list of conditions that increase risk for serious illness is being updated as experts continue to study and learn about COVID-19.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to issue warnings about the safety of using certain brands of hand sanitizer. Some hand sanitizers are being packaged in food and beverage containers, and some are being flavored, which can be confusing especially for children, who might ingest products that smell like food. Ingesting even small amounts of hand sanitizer can be potentially lethal for children and toxic for adults. The FDA also continues to screen and review hand sanitizer brands for ineffective ethanol levels, the presence of methanol and 1-propanol, and other harmful impurities. Symptoms of 1-propanol exposure can include confusion, decreased consciousness, and slowed pulse and breathing. Toxic effects of methanol can include changes in vision, vomiting, nausea, headache, or neurological symptoms. The FDA list of unsafe hand sanitizer brands is updated regularly and should be reviewed for recalled products to safely discard and avoid. Refer to the FDA’s guidelines on safe use of hand sanitizer as well as a question and answer page for more information.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Alexandria is now 3,938, including 71 fatalities. Detailed data, including data on age, race and ethnicity, is available through links at alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus.
AHD estimates that approximately 1 in 12 infected Alexandrians have required hospitalization. An estimated 66% of Virginia adults who become infected never have symptoms, so everyone must 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. Be prepared to help your family and neighbors by answering a call from AHD if you are identified as a close contact of someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
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