[Archived] City of Alexandria Provides COVID-19 Updates; Eviction Moratorium Extended to June 30; Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines Proven 90% Effective; Weekly Jobs and Workshops

­­For Immediate Release: March 29, 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. 

Eviction Moratorium Extended to June 30

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) moratorium on residential evictions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, which was scheduled to expire March 31, has been extended to June 30. 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.

Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines Proven 90% Effective

The Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines both demonstrated approximately 95% efficacy in clinical trials. Efficacy is how well a vaccine works under ideal and controlled circumstances, but how a vaccine works in real-world conditions, or its effectiveness, is more important. Today, the CDC released a study showing that both vaccines are nearly as effective in real-world conditions as their efficacy in clinical trials. 

The study, conducted with almost 4,000 health care personnel, first responders, and other essential and frontline workers, shows that the vaccines offer significant protection in conditions with real exposure to COVID-19 in actual workplaces. The CDC monitored participants between December 2020 and March 2021, in 8 cities across the U.S. with weekly COVID-19 testing. Results indicate that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 infection for fully vaccinated workers. The results show that vaccines are one of the best ways to fight COVID-19 and end the pandemic. AHD encourages everyone to pre-register, to receive a vaccine when it becomes available to them, and to encourage their family members, friends and colleagues to get vaccinated.  

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. 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.