For Immediate Release: December 10, 2020
The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) strongly urge residents to stay home as much as possible during the current surge of COVID-19 cases in our community. Cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are increasing in Alexandria. Take immediate and ongoing action to control the spread by wearing a mask over both your nose and mouth, staying home unless it’s necessary to go out, and washing your hands frequently. Without these critical steps, additional lives may be at risk.
Governor Ralph Northam announced today that new statewide mitigation mandates will go into effect on Monday, December 14, due to the surge in positive COVID-19 cases. These new restrictions, under Executive Order 72, are expected to remain in effect until at least January 31, 2021.
All individuals will be required to stay home between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., with some exceptions, including school, work, urgent needs and emergencies.
Masks will be required for ages 5 and over at all times in indoor settings that are shared with others, including places of worship and work settings, whether or not employees are customer facing. Masks will also be required for everyone ages 5 and over in all outdoor settings where 6 feet of physical distance cannot be maintained. These requirements are similar to those already in place under Alexandria's mask ordinance.
The limit on social gatherings will be reduced from 25 to 10 people, which includes, but is not limited to, parties, celebrations, or other social events, regardless of whether they occur indoors or outside. Religious services, restaurants, retail businesses, employment settings and schools are not considered social gatherings, and other rules apply.
Restaurants will still be limited to serving alcohol only until 10 p.m. and food only until midnight, with no bar seating and all customers seated so that members of different groups are at least 6 feet apart. Masks must be worn by customers when not actively eating or drinking, and all restaurant employees, including cooks and kitchen staff. All employers are still urged to permit teleworking whenever possible.
The Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP) has received state funding to continue after CARES Act funding ends on December 30. Beginning January 1, in addition to the existing eligibility requirements, landlords will be required to submit applications for the RMRP on behalf of delinquent tenants who have not already applied. Landlords who own more than four units must offer a repayment plan before filing for eviction, and are required to give tenants 14 days’ notice before filing. Landlords are encouraged to work with tenants to find rental assistance programs. They may not evict tenants without going through a legal process, and they cannot evict before December 31 as long the tenant has agreed to apply for assistance through the RMRP. Landlords may also not deny applicants for tenancy based solely on their payment or eviction history due to nonpayment between March 12 and the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Applicants who believe they are experiencing discrimination for payment history during the pandemic should call 703.746.4990 or visit alexandriava.gov/Housing for information. Tenants covered under the eviction moratorium are still required to pay rent. Tenants unable to pay rent because of lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be able to receive a 60-day continuance on their cases. The application under current eligibility requirements will be available until December 30. The new application and requirements will be available on January 1.
Residents are encouraged to use trusted resources for information about COVID-19, including City, AHD, Virginia Department of Health, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) webpages, to avoid myths and misinformation about how to prevent and cure COVID-19. For example, garlic, onions, hot peppers, alcohol and mouthwash will not prevent infection from COVID-19. Ultraviolet light and household cleaners should not be used to disinfect skin or ingested in an attempt to kill the virus. There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread on shoes or food. Staying home or wearing masks will not weaken or hurt your immune system. Biological viruses do not travel through radio waves or mobile networks, so 5G did not cause the COVID-19 pandemic. The City webpage, “ Preparing for Vaccines” answers questions about how they work, how they were developed, and more. Many vaccines are in the final stages of approval for distribution to the public.
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 15 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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