[Archived] City of Alexandria Provides COVID-19 Updates; Child Care and Extended Pharmacy Hours Support Vaccination; Delta Variant Highlights Importance of Vaccination; Historic Alexandria Program Adjustments

­­For Immediate Release: June 22, 2021

Help end the pandemic by wearing a mask over both your nose and mouth, washing your hands frequently, and getting vaccinated. 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.

Free Child Care and Extended Pharmacy Hours Support Vaccination

Through July 4, KinderCare, Learning Care Group, and some YMCA locations are providing free drop-in child care services to any parent or caregiver during their vaccination appointment. In Alexandria, the YMCA on West Braddock Road offers free child care during on-site vaccine appointments at the First Assembly of God. The Innovation Station Child Development Center provides free child care for patients of vaccine clinics offered by Alexandria Health Department in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Safeway, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and some independent pharmacies offer extended hours on certain days through July 4 to provide COVID-19 vaccination. The extended hours help those without the option for time off from work to receive a vaccine. Find pharmacies with extended hours at vaccines.gov.

Both initiatives are part of President Biden's National Month of Action for COVID-19 Vaccines. The purpose of the program is to vaccinate as many U.S. adults as possible by July 4. Learn more about vaccination support and incentives. 

Delta Variant Highlights the Importance of Vaccination

The virus that causes COVID-19 is constantly changing, creating COVID-19 variants. There are currently six variants of concern that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors and the Virginia Department of Health displays on its COVID-19 variant dashboard. The newest variant is the delta variant, which spreads more easily. With new and more contagious variants in Alexandria, unvaccinated people and children are at increased risk and should continue to wear masks, maintain six feet of physical distance, avoid crowds, and wash their hands frequently. 

The CDC advises that current COVID-19 vaccines provide protection against the delta variant. The best way to keep yourself and the community safe and prevent new variants from appearing and spreading is for everyone possible to get vaccinated. The Alexandria Health Department strongly encourages all residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Find a vaccination appointment at alexandriava.gov/Vaccines.

Historic Alexandria Program Adjustments 

To align with the updated policy for City facilities, advanced purchase of timed entry to Alexandria museums is no longer required and limited in-person guided tours will be available. For some specific indoor congregate settings with children, Historic Alexandria reserves the right to require masks for all guests and employees. Visit alexandriava.gov/Historic for additional information and upcoming summer events.

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. Vaccination charts include total doses administered across all facilities, the percentage of residents ages 12 and older who have been partially and fully vaccinated, and weekly doses administered. Vaccination charts are available with definitions and data source information 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.