For Immediate Release: December 21, 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.
Frontline health care workers in 18 Virginia hospitals, including Inova Alexandria Hospital, have started receiving their first of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, and health care personnel and long-term care facility staff and residents remain top priority recipients. Along with Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued Emergency Use Authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Moderna. As a result, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has issued interim recommendations for the Moderna vaccine for use in people ages 18 and older and it should be included in distribution of initial vaccine supplies. Virginia is likely to adopt these recommendations.
The Virginia COVID-19 Unified Command has developed a COVID-19 vaccine prioritization and distribution approach for the Commonwealth to follow. Under this process, the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Vaccine Unit will draft a protocol based on ACIP recommendations, receive feedback from the COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee, and provide those recommendations to Virginia’s Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (VDMAC) for input. VDMAC is an advisory group established in the spring to make recommendations about resource allocations. VDMAC members include experts from public health and healthcare, an ethicist, and a representative of the Unified Command Health Equity Workgroup. VDMAC will provide their recommendations to the Virginia COVID-19 Unified Command Leadership for approval. Currently, VDH is reviewing and considering the ACIP recommendations that were announced on December 20. VDH expects to finalize its allocation prioritization soon.
Positive cases of COVID-19 are increasing in Alexandria and residents who are experiencing symptoms or think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 are urged to get tested. AHD and the City conduct targeted COVID-19 community testing events for people who live and work in the immediate neighborhood of each location, since parking may be limited. In partnership with Neighborhood Health, Alexandria's federally qualified health center, and assistance from AHD’s Medical Reserve Corps volunteers, more than 200 people were tested on Saturday, December 19, at William Ramsay Recreation Center. The City’s “ Get Tested” webpage contains a variety of resources, including testing options whether or not you are insured, have been exposed to COVID-19, or are experiencing symptoms. Call or book an appointment online before going to any facility. AHD will continue to identify future sites and coordinate targeted testing events. There should be no copays or self-pay charges for COVID-19 testing. If you have received a bill from Neighborhood Health for COVID-19 testing, please disregard it. You are not responsible for any charges. If you have any questions or concerns about having received bills from Neighborhood Health, please email billing@neighborhoodhealthva.org.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) launched a COVID-19 outbreak dashboard, to show outbreaks that have occurred in medical care facilities, Long-Term Care Facilities including residential or day programs licensed by VDH, the Department of Social Services, or the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; summer camps; and daycare and kindergarten-12th grade schools with more than 30 students or staff and residents. Outbreaks in these locations were previously incorporated in other dashboards. The weekly dashboard reflects outbreak event investigations that were conducted by health department officials, listed by locality, facility type, and public health investigation status, and includes COVID-19 cases and fatalities. For families with children in daycare, the City offers additional resources, including recorded town halls, worksheets and guidance for parents.
Residents who have lost employment due to COVID-19 are encouraged to review the list of employers who are hiring, which is updated weekly. This week, the Alexandria Workforce Development Center (WDC) offers several workshops to help residents enhance job readiness and improve their job search, including virtual job fair skills and transferable skills. All events and workshops take place online, are free, and registration is requested. Follow WDC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn for the latest flyer, or visit the WDC’s job board for a complete list of job opportunities.
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 calling your close contacts if you test positive for COVID-19. Learn who to call and what to say from AHD's “ What to Do If You Get Sick” guidance, which is available in Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, and Farsi or this brief video. 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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