[Archived] City of Alexandria Provides COVID-19 Updates; Guidance for Safer Gatherings; VDH Updates Data Dashboards; Data Reaffirms Vaccine Safety for Pregnant People

­­For Immediate Release: August 17, 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.

Guidance for Safer Gatherings

With the current surge in COVID-19 cases, every Alexandrian should take commonsense measures to protect themselves and others, regardless of vaccination status. The Alexandria Health Department (AHD) has developed guidance to reduce the risk of illness in social gatherings. Call the Alexandria COVID-19 Hotline at 703.746.4988 if you have additional questions on safety best practices.

VDH Updates Data Dashboards

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has updated its COVID-19 data dashboards to include new features, including a community transmission tab that aligns with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) transmission levels and is updated on a weekly basis. For the first time since mid-April 2021, Alexandria's community transmission level is now in the High Transmission category, which indicates more than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents in the past seven days. Prince William County, Prince George’s County and Washington DC are also in the high community transmission category, with neighboring jurisdictions approaching high transmission. 

The updated dashboard also includes a tab on COVID-19 hospitalization numbers and trends, developed by the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. This hospitalization dashboard provides daily updates on COVID-19 patients who are currently hospitalized or have been discharged, how many patients are now in the intensive care unit (ICU occupancy), and hospitalization trends.

Data Reaffirms Vaccine Safety for Pregnant People

Everyone ages 12 and older should get vaccinated against COVID-19 and new data analysis reaffirms that it is safe even if you are breastfeeding, pregnant, or trying to become pregnant. This research notes the well-documented evidence that a COVID-19 infection during pregnancy has been linked to severe illness and increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (such as miscarriage). This analysis did not find an increased risk of miscarriage for vaccinated pregnant people and concludes that COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy are safe. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and your baby from the dangers that COVID-19 pose. The vaccine has not been shown to put your baby at risk or decrease your chances of getting pregnant. 

Alexandria COVID-19 Data At-a-Glance

The Alexandria COVID-19 Dashboard below shows the daily change in the number of COVID-19 cases, deaths and 7-day average, as well as the cumulative totals. The chart focuses on the past 90 days and provides context for the CDC transmission levels. An interactive version is available at alexandriava.gov/114883. The Alexandria COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard below includes total doses administered across all facilities, the percentage of residents ages 12 and older who have received at least one dose, the number partially and fully vaccinated, and progress toward Alexandria’s and the state’s vaccination goals. Vaccination charts are available at alexandriava.gov/120654. Detailed data, including data on age, race and ethnicity, are available through links at alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus. 

At least one dose: Total number of people who received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including those who received one dose of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine. This metric includes all people who have received only one dose and those who received at least one dose.

Fully Vaccinated: Total number or percent of people who have completed the recommended series of a given vaccine product (i.e., two doses of the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine or one dose of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine).

Partially Vaccinated: Total number of people who have received the first dose of a two-dose vaccine course but have not yet received the second dose. 

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. 

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