[Archived] City of Alexandria Provides COVID-19 Updates; Avoid Unnecessary Testing and Travel; Restaurants Offering Thanksgiving Take-out and Delivery; Guidance for Students Returning Home for Holiday Break

­­For Immediate Release: November 19, 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 to wear a mask over their noses and mouths 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. 

CDC, AHD, City Strongly Urge Against Unnecessary Travel and Related Testing

AHD and the City strongly urge residents to choose lower risk Thanksgiving activities this year to reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 outbreaks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says “ the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home.” Travel increases the chance of becoming infected and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19, especially when traveling to areas of the U.S. experiencing surges of cases.

By itself, receiving a negative COVID-19 test result shortly before travel does not significantly lower the risk, because the person tested would still need to quarantine for 14 days from their last potential exposure to other people who may have COVID-19. Unnecessary tests and travel tie up resources that could help those who may have been exposed during essential work, essential travel, or other sources.

Restaurants Offering Thanksgiving Take-out and Delivery

To minimize the spread of COVID-19, AHD strongly urges residents to celebrate Thanksgiving at home with small gatherings of members of the same household. The City has developed a multilingual flyer to help residents identify Thanksgiving activities by low, moderate, and high risk. As an alternative to dining out, consider staying safe and supporting local businesses by ordering take-out, curbside pick-up, or delivery from one of the nearly 50 Alexandria restaurants that will be open on Thanksgiving. Some restaurants will offer their full menus, while others will have modified menus of holiday favorites and holiday packages. Visit Alexandria offers a complete list of restaurants that go above and beyond to ensure their establishments are meeting AHD COVID-19 guidelines as ALX Promise partners. 

Guidance for Students Returning Home for Holiday Break

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) offers guidance for students who will be returning home for the holidays from colleges and universities located out of state or in different regions, to minimize potential household exposure to COVID-19. Students and staff are strongly urged to follow all the mitigation measures for preventing the spread of COVID-19 while participating in classes and activities. At least 14 days before returning home, students should limit in-person interactions with others; consider getting tested for COVID-19; and receive the results before leaving campus. If limited interaction is not possible while at school, students should quarantine at home for at least 14 days, keep isolated from the household, and get tested one week after travel. After quarantine ends, students should continue to limit the frequency and size of social gatherings with people outside their households; wear masks; and maintain 6 feet of physical distance at all times. If a student tests positive prior to travel, they should self-isolate and not travel for at least 10 days. Students who test negative for COVID-19 afterclose contact with someone who tested positive should still quarantine for 14 days after exposure. VDH has developed a flyer for students and parents to help them understand the recommended mitigation measures.  

Alexandria COVID-19 Data At-a-Glance

The chart below, containing the seven-day moving average number of COVID-19 cases and the daily and cumulative case and fatality counts, provides detailed information about how preventive measures are impacting Alexandria's response to the pandemic. An interactive version is available at alexandriava.gov/114883. 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.