Health Directors Recommend COVID Precautions For Holidays In Fairfax City, NoVA

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — The health department directors in Fairfax City and other Northern Virginia health districts are urging residents not to let up on COVID-19 precautions for the upcoming holidays.

The health directors released a joint statement urging continued precautions as friends and families get together for the fall and winter holidays and people spend more time indoors during cold weather. They also expect a surge in flu and COVID-19 cases this fall and winter. Mitigation strategies are aimed at protecting people at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 and those not yet eligible for vaccination.

"Northern Virginia residents have continually shown that we can work together to fight the COVID-19 pandemic — through testing, vaccination and staying home when sick," said Dr. David Rose, the newly appointed health director in Alexandria. "We all need to keep up our defenses throughout the expected winter surge in cases."

The health directors noted despite high rates of vaccination, Northern Virginia as substantial transmission of COVID-19. Fairfax City's rate of new cases — 742.2 per 100,000 people — is classified as high, although its positivity rate of 0.0 percent is considered low. Alexandria City, Loudoun County and Prince William County also have substantial transmission of COVID-19, according to Virginia Department of Health data. Fairfax County and Manassas Park are down to moderate transmission, and Falls Church City, Manassas City are listed as having high transmission.

Fairfax City already has one layer of protection with one of the highest vaccination rates in the state. There are 75.3 percent of people with at least one vaccine dose and 68.9 percent fully vaccinated, according to VDH data, which also reports 12.9 percent of the population in Fairfax City has a booster dose.

The following mitigation strategies are recommended:

• Get all eligible members of your family fully vaccinated, including booster shots, if appropriate.
• Wear a mask indoors when around those not in your household.
• Stay home when sick.
• Socially distance – stay six feet from others as much as possible.
• Avoid crowded and indoor areas where distancing is not possible, or where you will be in close contact with those whose vaccination status is unknown.
• If you think you may have COVID-19 or may have been exposed, get tested and follow guidelines for isolation and quarantine.
• Wash your hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available. This will help prevent many diseases, including the seasonal flu.
• If you are not fully vaccinated, stay away from others and get tested 3-5 days after returning home from travel.