Alexandria Retirement Home Resident Positive For Coronavirus

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A hospitalized resident at Alexandria's Hermitage Northern Virginia retirement community has tested positive for the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 respiratory illness. The facility was notified by Inova Alexandria Hospital Wednesday night.

The resident started experiencing mild symptoms on April 7 and was taken to the hospital for testing. The patient remains hospitalized. This is the retirement community's only confirmed case of COVID-19.

Hermitage Northern Virginia's health care management team and the Alexandria Health Department have identified and notified residents and workers who were potentially exposed. Those individuals are under self-quarantine for 14 days. Other residents or workers aren't experiencing symptoms, Hermitage Northern Virginia said in a statement.

The West End retirement community asked all residents are to remain in their apartments or health care rooms as a precaution. Workers are wearing masks on the job, and the facility is seeking more personal protective equipment (PPE) from the Virginia Healthcare Coalition.

"Because of the precautions already in place, we are hopeful that the potential spread of the virus is limited, but we must continue to practice self-isolation, good hand washing and the use of appropriate PPE," said Chris Henderson, CEO of Pinnacle Living.

Hermitage Northern Virginia previously restricted visitors with exceptions for individuals essential for a resident's care. Approved guests must answer screening questions and may be required to wear personal protective equipment. Workers are screened before their shifts and are asked to practice physical distancing when not at work. Dining venues are closed with residents receiving meal delivery service, but select dining areas in health services are operating. Restrictions continue until public health officials provide different guidance.

As of Wednesday, Alexandria has 149 cases of COVID-19 and one death. The Alexandria Health Department does not release locations of cases for privacy reasons, said city spokesperson Craig Fifer. Residents are urged to take the same precautions to protect themselves and others regardless of case locations.

The city notifies residents in cases of public concern, such as a person with COVID-19 who visited Murphy's Irish Pub, or a person who tested positive and spent time at the Immanuel Chapel of the Virginia Theological Seminary.

The health department advises close contacts of confirmed cases to self-quarantine and actively monitor for fever and respiratory symptoms. Those experiencing symptoms should seek medical care if their symptoms are severe or if they are healthcare workers or first responders. The common symptoms of COVID-19 are coughing, fever of over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, and shortness of breath; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a coronavirus self-checker.

The Alexandria Health Department urges residents to stay home except for essential trips and follow these precautions:

• Wash your hands often by rubbing them together with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Maintain six feet of personal space whenever possible.
• Stay home when you are sick. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cough and sneeze into your elbow, not your hand. Alternatively, cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash, and wash your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public spaces where it is hard to maintain physical distance.

For more public health information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus.

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