[Archived] City of Alexandria Provides COVID-19 Updates; Eviction Moratorium Extended; Masks Required on DASH Buses; Metrorail and Metrobus Crowding Tracker

­­For Immediate Release: February 4, 2021

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.

Eviction Moratorium Extended

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) moratorium on residential evictions and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development's Foreclosure and Eviction Moratorium for Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgages have both been extended through March 31. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified underlying issues of housing insecurity for many Americans. Keeping people in their homes and out of congregate settings, like shelters, is a key step in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19. The moratorium temporarily halts evictions of covered persons for nonpayment of rent or housing. For more information about the moratorium and who is covered, visit the CDC COVID-19 website. Alexandria residents who have received eviction notices should call the Office of Housing at 703.746.4990 for assistance. Learn more about resources for renters, homeowners and landlords at alexandriava.gov/Housing.   

Masks Required on DASH Buses

Effective Monday, February 8, and in accordance with orders issued by the Transportation Security Administration and the CDC, all DASH employees and passengers will be required to wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Masks must be worn at all times, including while waiting for buses to arrive, while boarding, during transport, and when disembarking. Passengers will not be permitted to board buses without a mask on, and will be required to leave the bus if they remove their mask or refuse to wear it during their trip. There are exceptions to his mandate, including for children ages 2 and younger, and individuals with disabilities as defined by the American Disabilities Act. DASH operators will have a supply of masks for any passenger who requests one. This mandate will remain in effect until the federal law changes. Visit the DASH COVID-19 page for all updates.  

Metrorail and Metrobus Crowding Tracker

The Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has implemented a system that allows passengers to know when rail cars and buses are crowded. Using technology available on Metrobuses and crowding predictions on Metrorail, passengers can find out in real time their capacity status using WMATA’s bus tracking feature. Physical distancing may not be possible on every bus or train. Customers are able to see how full buses and rail cars are, based on physical distancing recommendations. The crowding data feed may be temporarily suspended when there are large-scale events; unplanned service disruptions; or track work that might render the data unreliable. WMATA invites customers to give feedback of their experiences with the data.

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 20 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.