Presumptive Positive Cases Increase To 4 In Alexandria

UPDATE: The Alexandria Health Department changed the total number of cases to four. It was determined a person who tested positive for new coronavirus in New York provided an Alexandria address but hasn't lived there since January.

ALEXANDRIA, VA — On Tuesday evening, the Alexandria Health Department identified two additional presumptive positive cases of the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. That brings the total number of presumptive cases to five in Alexandria. In light of the growing outbreak, public health officials urge all residents to change daily behaviors to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The two new cases involve a person who traveled abroad and a person in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in DC. The health department advises patients who test positive to self-isolate. Investigations will determine if the patients had close contact with others. Those individuals would be contacted and asked to self-quarantine and monitor for fever and respiratory symptoms. Those who experience symptoms will be immediately tested.

Alexandria's two other cases involve a person who attended a Feb. 25 DC conference and had close contact with an individual confirmed to have COVID-19, and a person who had close contact with a DC resident associated with Christ Church in Georgetown who tested positive for COVID-19. The presumptive cases must be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Alexandria City Council will hold an emergency meeting to consider measures in response to COVID-19. According to a memo from Mayor Justin Wilson, anticipated impacts from the outbreak are unemployed or underemployed residents, food and housing insecurity, children needing care while schools are closed, significant declines in revenue for small businesses, and impacts on city revenues and city expenditures. The council has already approved local emergency declaration and allocated $100,000 to ACT for Alexandria's food relief fund.

Amid the rapidly changing COVID-19 outbreak, the Alexandria Health Department is asking residents to mitigate the spread and protect vulnerable individuals. A public health emergency order from the governor and state health commission prohibits restaurants, fitness centers, and theaters from having more than 10 customers. The order can be enforced, but restaurants can continue providing carry-out and delivery.

Citing interim CDC guidance, the Alexandria Health Department recommends the cancellation of in-person gatherings with 50 or more people. This does not apply to day-to-day operations of organizations like schools and businesses.

The recommendation from the White House announced on March 16 calls for residents to stay home when sick, work from home when possible, avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people, avoid discretionary travel and shopping trips, avoid eating and drinking in restaurants, bars and public food courts, and utilizing pickup and delivery options from restaurants.

Gov. Ralph Northam urged individuals 65 or older to self-quarantine due to their increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Residents are encouraged to check in on neighbors who are high risk for severe illness, which includes older adults and those with serious chronic medical conditions.

Other individuals are urged to practice social distancing in public. This includes maintaining six feet of personal space when possible, frequently washing hands and using hand sanitizer, and avoiding handshakes and other direct contact.

If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19 (coughing, fever of over 100.4 F, and shortness of breath), call a primary care physician before visiting in person. Anyone experiencing symptoms should isolate at home, avoid contact with others, wash hands frequently and regularly disinfect surfaces.

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More information about the COVID-19 outbreak is provided by the Alexandria Health Department, Virginia Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alexandria's COVID-19 information line is available weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 703-746-4988. Virginia residents can direct questions to the Virginia Department of Health public information line at 877-ASK-VDH3.

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