For Immediate Release: February 5, 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.
As of February 5, AHD has received more than 36,000 vaccine pre-registration submissions. Alexandria receives less than 2,000 first doses a week, so vaccinating the entire eligible population will take time.
When there are available appointments, AHD contacts people by phone or email in the order that they pre-registered, from within the currently eligible categories. Currently, residents ages 65 and over and frontline essential workers are eligible. When contacted by phone, the number will likely show up as 703.746.4988 and people will be called three times; a voicemail will be left if no one answers. Emails will come from vaccine.registration@alexandriava.gov, and may end up in spam folders, so check frequently.
Appointments will be available either at an AHD vaccine event or with a local private provider. Within the frontline essential worker category, AHD is prioritizing health care workers from Phase 1a and the top tiers of Phase 1b (police, fire, corrections and shelter workers, childcare, and K12 staff). However, AHD is offering appointment slots to all essential workers in 1b at this time. AHD has not started vaccinating those 16-64 with underlying medical conditions.
CVS pharmacies across Virginia will soon be offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments and AHD will notify those who have pre-registered as being ages 16-64 with underlying medical conditions as soon as the dates and locations are made public by CVS. AHD strongly encourages those with underlying medical conditions under 65 to seek out an appointment at CVS. All others should follow the current process of vaccine pre-registration at alexandriava.gov/Vaccines. With the current limited supply, consider your neighbors and frontline workers before booking appointments. Everyone who wants to be vaccinated, will be eventually.
Between January 29 and February 4, AHD administered 1,118 first doses of vaccine to those ages 65 and up and essential workers, for a total of 9,764 first doses administered since December 24. These numbers do not include vaccines administered by private providers and pharmacies. The next group receiving vaccines will be Alexandrians under 64 with underlying medical conditions along with additional essential workers. Since December 22, 2020, AHD has received 16,575 first doses.
Alexandria’s dose breakdown to date:
There is currently a large pool eligible for Phase 1b who are working almost entirely remotely with no exposure to the public. If that applies to you, consider waiting to receive your vaccine until supplies are more plentiful to ensure that those on the frontline without telework capabilities can be protected while they interact with the public.
The City and AHD encourage residents to consider alternative ways to celebrate the Super Bowl safely to avoid the additional case surge that Alexandria experienced after the holidays. Support local restaurants by ordering take-out and hosting a video party with friends and loved ones, to share the excitement remotely. Executive Order 72 requires that you remain in your place of residence between midnight and 5 a.m.; limit social gatherings to 10 participants; and wear a mask in indoor shared settings and when within 6 feet of others from different households in outdoor settings. Alcohol may not be sold, consumed, or possessed in any dining establishment, brewery, distillery, or winery after 10 p.m. and all such establishments must close by midnight, including bars, tents, and other areas of congregating.
Although they are not safe substitutes for virtual activities, the following precautions may help lower the risk of transmission if you decide to gather:
The City’s “
Contact Tracing Factsheet,” which is also available in
Spanish,
Amharic and
Arabic, provides a worksheet to assist in notifying friends and loved ones in the event that someone at a social gathering tests positive for COVID-19.
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.
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