Case Investigations Show Potential Exposure Sources In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Alexandria Health Department released information from November case investigations indicating potential sources of exposure for COVID-19 cases.

During the month of November, case investigators interviewed 760 residents diagnosed with COVID-19. Residents were asked to recall activities during the two weeks before they felt sick, which could identify potential sources of COVID-19 exposure. Individuals could identify more than one possible location or activity that led to infection.

An analysis of the interviews found the most common activity reported was living with someone who recently had COVID-19 or with someone visiting. This was reported by 29 percent of respondents.

There were 27 percent who were involved in non-essential activities like attending public events, social gatherings or entertainment activities (most often indoors); traveling outside the DC region (most often within the U.S.), or going to restaurants or bars (most often eating indoors). A total of 23 percent said they went to their workplaces.

The health department says the activities may or may have not been sources of exposure but are seen as common links for people who become ill with COVID-19. The results mirror a similar analysis from October, other local analyses, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research.

Based on this exposure analysis, the health department recommends these precautions to lower the risk of these activities:

• Protect coworkers by not entering workplaces when ill or recently in close contact with someone with COVID-19.
• If someone in the household is ill, immediately take precautions such as wearing masks when in common areas, avoiding shared utensils and staying 6 feet apart.
• Limit indoor social gatherings, and choose lower risk activities for holiday celebrations.
CDC’s guidance to lower risk of COVID-19.
• Wear masks as much as possible when around other people outside of the home, including while waiting to order or receive food at restaurants, or inside the home if you’re infectious.
• Support businesses that have completed the ALX Promise voluntary accreditation program, since these entities have taken additional training with AHD and have pledged to go above and beyond minimum state safety standards for employees and customers.

As of Thursday, Alexandria has 6,012 cumulative cases, 390 hospitalizations and 82 deaths. That's an increase of 62 cases, two hospitalizations and one death. The seven-day average of daily cases is 76, and total cases per 100,000 in the last 14 days are 525.1. For hospitalizations, the seven-day average of daily reports is two, and the seven-day average of daily hospitalizations per 100,000 is 1.5. The seven-day average of new daily deaths is 0.3.

The health department said in a statement its main focuses are the response to rising cases and preparation for upcoming vaccination efforts.