Coronavirus Cases Up To 13 In Alexandria, Restrictions To Begin

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Alexandria Health Department announced Tuesday night there are 13 total cases of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19. Its latest recommendation calls for residents to stay home except for essential trips in light of new statewide restrictions announced by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.

The health department is investigating whether the latest cases had close contacts with others. Close contacts will be directed to self-quarantine and monitor for fever and respiratory symptoms. Those individuals will undergo testing if they start showing symptoms. Cases are expected to increase due to the health department's investigations and expanded testing through private providers.

Numerous statewide restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 will take effect at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24 through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2020. Northam's executive order closes K-12 schools through the end of the 2019-2020 academic year.

Non-essential recreation and entertainment businesses must close by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday. That includes theaters, performing arts centers, concert venues, museums, fitness centers, recreation centers, bowling alleys, amusement parks, trampoline parks and more indoor entertainment centers. Salons, barber shops and other places where personal care services don't allow people to stay six feet apart must close.

Dine-in areas must also close by the end of Tuesday. Restaurants, food courts, farmers markets, breweries, distilleries, wineries and tasting rooms may stay open with take-out and delivery services only. The Alexandria Health Department advises businesses to use online and phone payments. Those who pay in person should insert their cards into readers when possible, and businesses should sanitize touch screens after each use. The executive order is a change from the previous allowance of up to 10 people in dining areas.

Businesses considered essential may remain open for regular hours. Among the essential businesses are grocery stores; pharmacies; medical retailers; retailers selling communications technology like cell phones, computers and tablets; automotive repair, parts, accessories, and tire retailers; home improvement retailers, lawn and garden equipment retailers; beer, wine and liquor stores; retail at gas stations and convenience stores; retail in healthcare facilities; banks; pet stores and feed stores; printing and office supply stores; laundromats and dry cleaners.

In addition, gatherings of 10 or more people are banned, effective 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday. That doesn't include gatherings related to health care or medical services, access to essential services for low-income residents such as food banks, operations of the media, law enforcement agencies or operations of government.

The Alexandria Health Department doesn't provide testing, so residents should ask their healthcare provider about testing. If you experience the most common symptoms (coughing, fever of over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit and shortness of breath) call your health care provider before visiting to discuss whether you should come in for an exam. Those without a health care provider or insurance are advised to call an urgent care center to allow them to prepare for their visit. Those showing symptoms should isolate themselves, avoid contact with others, frequently wash hands and disinfect surfaces regularly.

Public health officials have seen signs of community spread, or is the spread of an illness with an unknown source of exposure, in Northern Virginia. COVID-19 ranges from mild to severe respiratory illness, with symptoms appearing up to 14 days after exposure. Northam previously advised anyone with chronic health conditions or age 65 or older should self-quarantine because or their increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Here are recommended measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands. Rub hands together with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use hand sanitizer. If you can’t wash your hands, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol as you would wash your hands, rubbing them together for 20 seconds.
• Don’t touch your face. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home. If you are feeling sick, stay home. If you are well, avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Use your elbow. 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.
• Disinfect surfaces. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Residents can get alerts about COVID-19 by texting ALEXCOVID19 to 888777. Questions about COVID-19 can be directed to the Alexandria COVID-19 information line at 703-746-4988, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., or the Virginia Department of Health public information line, 877-ASK-VDH3. For more information on the impact of COVID-19 in Alexandria, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus.

SEE ALSO:

• VA Governor Orders Schools Closed For Rest Of Year: Coronavirus
• School Closing Order: What It Means For Alexandria Schools
• Virginia Coronavirus Updates: Things To Know For Week Of March 22
• Playgrounds, Most Alexandria Government Facilities Closed