Alexandria Public Schools Announce Changes Due To New Coronavirus

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria City Public Schools will be closed beginning on Monday, March 16 in response to the new coronavirus situation. The school district will monitor the situation and is planning to resume after spring break, which ends after April 13.

"At this time, we have no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in our schools, and the Alexandria Health Department has not determined community-spread of the coronavirus in the City of Alexandria," said Superintendent Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. in a message to families. "We have a number of staff and students who are self-quarantining and will be out for several weeks. Closures in our region are also impacting our ability to fully staff our schools."

The decision came after parents and staff expressed concerns about schools remaining open during the growing coronavirus outbreak. The Alexandria Health Department had not recommended closing of schools with no evidence of community-spread of new coronavirus in Alexandria. However, Hutchings said "multiple issues are impacting the ability for our schools to function effectively and efficiently."

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The food services team is preparing arrangements for student meals while school is closed. Any child between ages 2 and 18 can pick up a meal to go, regardless of free or reduced price meal status. The pick-up location is Chinquapin Drive side of T.C. Williams High School (door 14) between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. No pre-registration is required.

The other option is family meal packs, which can be requested through a form. The pick-up location is the drive-thru pickup point outside Chinquapin Recreation Center (Chinquapin Drive side of T.C. Williams High School, door 14) between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. the day after your order is placed. Meal delivery can be requested.

Families are urged to ensure their contact information is up-to-date to receive updates from the school district. Daily updates will be sent through ACPS Express, and officials will take questions through webinars at 3 p.m. daily.

SEE ALSO: Virginia Coronavirus Updates: What You Need To Know

As of Friday, there is one presumptive positive case of the new coronavirus in Alexandria. The Alexandria resident had close contact with a DC resident associated with Christ Church in Georgetown who tested positive. The DC resident spent time at the Immanuel Chapel of the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria. The health department asked congregants and visitors to the Immanuel Chapel between Feb. 26 and March 4 to self-monitor for symptoms (cough, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or temperature higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

Residents can find trusted information on the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, from the Alexandria Health Department, Virginia Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.