[Archived] City of Alexandria Provides COVID-19 Updates; Now Scheduling: Phase 1 Appointments; Emergency Food Distribution this Saturday; Updated Guidance for Cleaning Surfaces at Home

­­For Immediate Release: April 7, 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. 

Now Scheduling: Phase 1 Appointments

AHD has attempted to contact and schedule vaccine appointments for all eligible individuals who pre-registered by April 6. Currently eligible groups include: 

• Phase 1a
• Ages 65+
• Ages 16-64 with certain existing medical conditions in all census tracts
• Frontline Essential Workers eligible in Phase 1b or Phase 1c
  

If you pre-registered before April 6, and have not been contacted by AHD, first check your email spam folder. If you do not have a message in your spam folder, fill out this brief form. AHD also encourages all residents who pre-registered to visit alexandriava.gov/Vaccines and select “Update Pre-registration Record” to verify that your information is accurate, especially your employment information, including a valid street address (e.g. “4480 King St.”, not “same as home address”). Anyone who does not have email or internet access should contact the Alexandria COVID-19 Hotline weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 703.746.4988.

Emergency Food Distribution this Saturday

ALIVE! Truck-to-Trunk will distribute emergency groceries for City of Alexandria residents at two drive-through sites on Saturday, April 10, 8:30-10:30 a.m., in the parking lot of Cora Kelly Elementary School (3600 Commonwealth Ave.) and parking lot B-1 of the Northern Virginia Community College Alexandria Campus (3320 Bisdorf Drive via Dawes Ave.). Per college policy, if they close for any reason, such as inclement weather, the food distribution will be canceled. To minimize risk of possible exposure to COVID-19, attendees are asked to drive through and remain in their cars and stay home if they feel sick. Walk-up service is reserved for residents without personal vehicles. Customers who participate in walk-up service should maintain 6 feet of physical distance, wear face masks, and bring carts or reusable bags to carry food home. Customers with vehicles should use the drive-through option. Additional food assistance resources are available for Alexandria residents.  

Updated Guidance for Cleaning Surfaces at Home

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidance on transmission of the COVID-19 virus by contact with surfaces, and cleaning and disinfecting the home. The CDC has determined that the coronavirus is primarily spread through exposure to airborne respiratory droplets carrying the virus. The risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 by contact with a contaminated surface or object is considered low. 

The CDC “ Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Home” webpage provides updated guidance about how to care for surfaces at home. Regular cleaning with soap and water will remove most virus particles on surfaces. Disinfect home surfaces when someone who lives there is sick, is at high-risk of becoming severely ill if exposed to the coronavirus, or if someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 has visited within the last 24 hours. High-touch surfaces should be cleaned regularly, especially after there have been visitors. Take steps to limit contamination in the home by asking unvaccinated visitors to wear masks, following guidance for fully vaccinated visitors, isolating sick individuals in the home, and frequently washing hands. Guidance for home care when someone in the household is sick has also been updated.     

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.