[Archived] Alexandria Health Department Provides Updates on Commonly Reported Potential Sources of Local COVID-19 Exposure

For Immediate Release: December 10, 2020

Between November 1 and 30, Alexandria Health Department (AHD) case investigators interviewed 760 residents diagnosed with COVID-19. Case investigators asked people to recall their activities during the two weeks before they felt sick, to identify potential sources of COVID-19 exposure. 

Individuals could have identified more than one possible location or activity that led to infection.  Of the total potential exposure sources reported by those interviewed, AHD found that:

• 29% of responses indicated contact with someone in their home who was recently diagnosed with COVID19, whether it was a member of the household or someone visiting. 

• 27% of responses indicated participation in non-essential activities, such as attending public events, social gatherings or entertainment activities (most often indoors); travelling outside of the Alexandria and Washington D.C. region (most often within the U.S.); or going to restaurants or bars (most often eating indoors). 

• 23% of responses indicated they had made trips to their workplaces. 

The activities an individual reported may or may not have been the sources of COVID-19 exposure for that individual; however, they do demonstrate trends and suggest common links for people who become ill. 

Based on this exposure analysis, AHD continues to emphasize the need for the following precautions to lower the risk of activities commonly reported by people diagnosed with COVID-19. 

• Protect coworkers by not entering workplaces when ill or recently in close contact with someone with COVID-19. 

• If someone in the household is ill, immediately take precautions such as wearing masks when in common areas, avoiding shared utensils and staying 6 feet apart. 

• Limit indoor social gatherings, and choose lower risk activities for holiday celebrations. 

• Avoid travel as much as possible, particularly to areas of the U.S. experiencing surges of cases. For necessary travel, follow CDC’s guidance to lower risk of COVID-19. 

• Wear masks as much as possible when around other people outside of the home, including while waiting to order or receive food at restaurants, or inside the home if you’re infectious.

• Support businesses that have completed the ALX Promise voluntary accreditation program, since these entities have taken additional training with AHD and have pledged to go above and beyond minimum state safety standards for employees and customers. 

These results mirror last month’s analysis, other local analyses, and research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AHD resources are now focused on responding to the rising cases and in preparation for upcoming vaccination initiatives. 

Visit alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus for more information about how COVID-19 is impacting Alexandria, health resources and AHD’s response to the pandemic.