[Archived] City of Alexandria Provides COVID-19 Updates; Personal Reasons to Wear Masks; Guidance for Pet Care

­­For Immediate Release: November 10, 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. 

Personal Reasons to Wear Masks

Medical and health experts agree that properly wearing masks when in public spaces remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19, particularly when combined with other important mitigation measures like the Six Steps to Stop the Spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) produced an “ I Wear a Mask Because…” video, which highlights some of the many personal reasons people wear masks. The video is also available in American Sign Language, along with links to shorter clips of the video and several pages of information including how to choose, store and care for masks. A City webpage dedicated to mask information includes the local and state requirements, videos for how to wear a mask correctly, and steps to take when violations are observed.   

Guidance for Pet Care

While there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 can spread to people from the fur, feathers, or skin of pets , it is best to treat pets the same as human household members to protect them and the household from exposure to the virus until more is known about how COVID-19 affects animals. The CDC offers guidelines on caring for pets during the pandemic. Anyone in the household who tests positive for COVID-19 should limit contact with pets. Do not wipe or bathe pets with chemical disinfectants or any product used to sanitize and disinfect, including hand sanitizer and surface cleaner wipes. Cats should be kept indoors, and while socialization and exercise is important for dogs, the CDC advises dog owners to minimize interaction with people outside the household. Avoid groomers, long-term care facilities, dog parks or other places where people and pets gather. If dog parks are unavoidable, bring water bowls, keep toys to a minimum, disinfect everything after use outside the home, and do not let dogs share water bowls or toys from outside the household. It is also important for pet owners to wear masks, keep physically distant and follow the mitigation measures whenever in pet-related situations outside the home. 

Alexandria COVID-19 Data At-a-Glance

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.