[Archived] City of Alexandria Provides COVID-19 Updates; VDH Monitoring for Omicron Variant; COVID-19 News Release Schedule Change

­­For Immediate Release: November 30, 2021

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

VDH Monitoring for Omicron Variant 

On Monday, November 29, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced that they are actively monitoring for the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.529, also known as the Omicron variant. No cases of this variant have been identified in the United States to date, but VDH will continue to actively track COVID-19 samples collected throughout the Commonwealth to identify variants. Even with new variants, safety measures like wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance are highly effective. Vaccination remains the most important tool to fight the pandemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals ages 18 and older who are fully vaccinated should get a booster to maximize their protection against COVID-19. Find an appointment today.

COVID-19 News Release Schedule Change

With nearly 77% of Alexandrians ages 5 and up partially vaccinated and the 7-day moving average of positive cases at a third of the peak in early fall, the frequency of this COVID-19 news release will reduce to once per week. Going forward, this news release will only be published on Tuesdays, unless there is a major announcement to share or there is a need to adjust the frequency. Daily COVID-19 case, death and vaccination data will continue to be available at alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus. 

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 Status dashboard below includes the percentage of residents ages 5 and older who are fully vaccinated, 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 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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