For Immediate Release: November 4, 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. To stop the spread of COVID-19, the state order and City ordinance require everyone ages 10 and older to 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, with limited exceptions. Your neighbors and loved ones are counting on you.
Governor Ralph Northam has authorized $22 million in federal Coronavirus Aid Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to create a statewide distribution plan for COVID-19 vaccines once they begin to become available for public use. The development of a mass vaccination program requires substantial planning and preparation to help Virginians get the vaccine as quickly, efficiently, and safely as possible. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has submitted a draft vaccination plan to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that addresses the planning of purchasing equipment; support for local health departments and staff to manage the program; medical supplies and storage; and communication to the public.
Local jurisdictions are developing plans for initial distribution to the most critical populations once they are accurately identified. Critical populations may include first responders, health care personnel and essential workers; people at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness; people at increased risk of getting sick or transmitting COVID-19; and those with limited access to routine vaccines and health care. It is anticipated that initially, vaccine supplies will be available in limited quantities. Planning also includes determining who the vaccine providers will be and training for the proper administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. Current funding will support VDH planning efforts through the end of 2020, with an estimated program cost of $120 million. Virginia will work to identify additional funding to cover the program cost in 2021.
This chart provides information about how preventive measures are impacting Alexandria’s response to the pandemic. Click or tap the chart to view an interactive version that provides details of the seven-day moving average number of COVID-19 cases, and the daily and cumulative case and fatality counts. Detailed data, including data on age, race and ethnicity, are available through links at alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus.
AHD estimates that approximately 1 in 13 Alexandrians who tested positive for COVID-19 have required hospitalization. An estimated 66% of Virginia adults who become infected never have symptoms. The best ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 remain wearing a mask in public, maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from others, and frequently washing your hands or carrying and using hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethyl alcohol. Help your loved ones and neighbors by answering a call from AHD if identified as a close contact of someone who tests positive for COVID-19, and download the Virginia Department of Health’s COVIDWISE app to be quickly and anonymously notified of likely exposure to the virus.
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