[Archived] City of Alexandria Provides COVID-19 Updates; Vaccination Dashboard Updates; CDC Emphasizes Importance of Second Dose; Updated Executive Order 72

­­For Immediate Release: April 29, 2021

Help end the pandemic by wearing a mask over both your nose and mouth, washing your hands frequently, and scheduling a vaccination appointment. 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.

Updated Executive Order 72

Governor Northam amended the mask requirements in Executive Order 72 to align with current and future CDC guidance. The most recent CDC guidance provides Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People and states that people who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks outdoors, except in certain crowded settings. Risk is increased when there is a decreased ability to maintain physical distance. The revision also increases the limit on spectators at outdoor recreational sporting events from 500 to 1,000 individuals. AHD notes that community members should continue to be mindful of the potential risks involved in various activities and take appropriate precautions.

Vaccination Dashboard Updates

The City has updated the COVID-19 Vaccination dashboard to include a new chart on the “Trends” tab showing the weekly vaccine doses administered and the weekly vaccine doses by manufacturer. Both charts display partially and fully vaccinated doses. Partially vaccinated is defined as the total number or percent of people who received the first dose of a two-dose vaccine, such as the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Fully vaccinated is defined as the total number or percent of people who completed the recommended series of a given vaccine product, which could include both doses of the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson’s Jansen COVID-19 vaccine.

CDC Emphasizes Importance of Second Dose

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) published updated guidance which highlights the need for everyone who has received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to get a second shot for the most protection. The vaccines are not interchangeable, so the manufacturer of the second dose should be the same as the first. Anyone who experienced side effects from the first dose should still get their second dose unless otherwise advised by a vaccine provider or health care provider. Timing of the second dose varies between manufacturers, with some flexibility about how long after the first dose was administered, but neither vaccine should be administered early. Everyone should receive a vaccination card when they receive their first dose of vaccine. Bring your vaccination card to your second dose appointment to ensure that you receive the correct vaccine. Regardless of the manufacturer, or whether your vaccine requires one or two doses, everyone is considered fully vaccinated with maximum protection two weeks after their final dose.  

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.