For Immediate Release: March 8, 2021
The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) strongly urge residents to stay home as much as possible, wear a mask over both your nose and mouth, and wash your hands frequently. Pre-register to receive the vaccine and you’ll be notified once appointments are available. AHD estimates that approximately 1 in 20 Alexandrians who have tested positive for COVID-19 have required hospitalization, so without these critical steps, additional lives may be at risk.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released
new guidance for people who have been fully vaccinated. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, like Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine. Those fully vaccinated:
Everyone, even those fully vaccinated, should continue to avoid medium and large gatherings, and delay domestic and international travel. If unsure about whether others are fully vaccinated, follow guidance as though they are not vaccinated. All existing City and state executive order requirements still apply.
Residents who pre-registered for the COVID-19 vaccine through the CDC Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) are being asked to verify or update their pre-registration information. Anyone who pre-registered through VAMS may have received a legitimate communication from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). If you received this email from
vaccinatevirginia@info.VDH.virginia.gov and are not yet fully vaccinated, please use the link provided in the email to update your information. Many records that were transferred from VAMS to the current state system did not have enough information for AHD to make contact to schedule appointments. The City and AHD are working hard to ensure that everyone who is eligible receives a vaccine, and thank you for your patience.
In addition to the frontline essential workers listed in VDH’s
Phase 1b prioritization, AHD will now be including restaurant workers in Phase 1b. Restaurant workers—particularly those that work in kitchens and small enclosed areas—generally must work within six feet of others for prolonged periods of time, which increases the risk of COVID-19 exposure. Waitstaff are unable to maintain a safe distance from customers who are not wearing masks while eating or drinking. Additionally, many food service workers tend to be from vulnerable communities, are often uninsured or underinsured, and do not have paid time off, which can put them at higher risk of complications if they contract COVID-19 with limited access to medical care. Restaurant workers who previously selected "Food Service" as their occupation while pre-registering will automatically be added to Phase 1b and do not need to take further action.
Based upon the following updated AHD guidance, caregivers and the people they care for may wish to update their pre-registration status by visiting
vaccinate.virginia.gov or calling 877.829.4682.
The seven-day moving average chart below shows the number of COVID-19 cases and the daily and cumulative case and fatality counts, and provides detailed information about how preventive measures are impacting Alexandria's response to the pandemic. An interactive version is available at alexandriava.gov/114883. The vaccination chart includes total doses administered across all facilities and the percentage of residents ages 16 and older who have been partially and fully vaccinated, and is available at alexandriava.gov/120654. Detailed data, including data on age, race and ethnicity, are available through links at alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus.
Continue following measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 even after vaccination. Get tested if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. If you test positive, help loved ones and neighbors by informing your close contacts using “ What to Do If You Get Sick” guidance, which is available in Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, and Farsi or this brief video.
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