[Archived] City of Alexandria Provides COVID-19 Updates; New Large-Scale Vaccination Site Opening Soon; DASH Bus Updates; Clarification on Updating Records; Weekly Jobs and Workshops

­­For Immediate Release: March 9, 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. 

New Large-Scale Vaccination Site Opening Soon in Alexandria

Inova Health System, in partnership with the City and Fairfax County, will open a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination center and expects to begin serving Northern Virginia by the end of March. The new Inova Stonebridge Vaccination Center, located in Alexandria, will have the capacity to vaccinate at least 6,000 people daily, as vaccine supplies allow. Along with AHD’s vaccine clinics, private providers and pharmacies, the Inova facility adds another option for vaccinating more eligible Alexandrians once vaccine supplies significantly increase.

DASH Bus Updates

Effective Monday, March 15, DASH buses will resume front-door boarding and fare collection of $2 per trip, and continue to offer discounted and fare-free programs for students and seniors. Passengers are encouraged to use contactless options to pay the fare to reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as the DASH app or the SmartTrip app or card. Passengers are required to wear masks over their nose and mouth at all times, including while waiting for the bus, boarding, traveling, and disembarking the bus. Passengers will not be permitted on any DASH bus without a mask. King Street Trolley service remains suspended until further notice.

Clarification on Updating Records 

Over the weekend, many residents received a legitimate email from the Virginia Department of Health from vaccinatevirginia@info.vdh.virginia.gov. Everyone should verify and update their pre-registration records now by visiting vaccinate.virginia.gov or calling 877-VAX-IN-VA, because the form includes additional questions that were not available on previous forms. If a record is missing important information, vaccination appointments may be delayed. People who have already been vaccinated should still update their records, because it will help match them to the immunization database and prevent them from receiving weekly reminders. Verifying information and updating records will not change pre-registration dates or reference codes.

Job Fair, Weekly Featured Jobs and Workshops

Residents who have lost employment due to COVID-19 are encouraged to review the list of employers who are hiring, which is updated weekly. The Alexandria Workforce Development Center (WDC) has several workshops coming up to help residents enhance job readiness and improve their job search, including resume building skills, job interviewing skills, job searching skills, and transferable skills. Residents can also access free “ SkillUp” workplace, business, and IT courses. 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.

Alexandria COVID-19 Data At-a-Glance

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.