City Of Alexandria: City Of Alexandria Provides COVID-19 Updates; Mask Policy Update For City Facilities; Health Directors Urge Masks

Press release from the City of Alexandria:

Jul 31, 2021 at 10:22 AM

Help end the pandemic by wearing a
mask over both your nose and mouth, washing your hands frequently, and
getting vaccinated. Approximately 1 in 20 Alexandrians who have tested positive for COVID-19 have required hospitalization, so without these critical steps, additional lives may be at risk.

Mask Policy Update for City Facilities

Effective July 30, the City of Alexandra now requires that all visitors and employees wear masks in City facilities, whether or not they are vaccinated. This update follows
new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that residents in communities with substantial or high COVID-19 community transmission wear masks in indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status. Alexandria is currently within the threshold of 50 to 99 new cases per 100,000 residents in the past seven days and is in a state of substantial transmission. Alexandria’s current rate is 62.73 per 100,000 residents. Loudoun, Arlington and Prince William counties are also considered communities of substantial transmission. View the complete
mitigation updates for City facilities.

Northern Virginia Health Directors Urge Universal Masking in Schools Long COVID Coverage

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released
new guidance on “long COVID,” which is defined as persistent and/or recurring symptoms of a COVID-19 infection. The guidance indicates when and how long COVID is an applicable disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. Under these federal laws, people who are significantly impaired by long COVID are protected from discrimination. The new guidance also provides resources for additional information and best practices.

new guidance on “long COVID,” Alexandria COVID-19 Data At-a-Glance

The Alexandria COVID-19 Dashboard below shows the daily change in the number of COVID-19 cases, deaths and 7-day average, as well as the cumulative totals. The chart focuses on the past 90 days and provides context for the CDC transmission levels. An interactive version is available at
alexandriava.gov/114883. The Alexandria COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard below includes total doses administered across all facilities, the percentage of residents ages 12 and older who have received at least one dose, the number partially and fully vaccinated, and progress toward Alexandria’s and the state’s vaccination goals. Vaccination charts are available at
alexandriava.gov/120654. Detailed data, including data on age, race and ethnicity, are available through links at
alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus.

At least one dose: Total number of people who received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including those who received one dose of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine. This metric includes all people who have received only one dose and those who received at least one dose.

Fully Vaccinated: Total number or percent of people who have completed the recommended series of a given vaccine product (i.e., two doses of the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine or one dose of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine).

Partially Vaccinated: Total number of people who have received the first dose of a two-dose vaccine course but have not yet received the second dose.

Continue following measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 even after vaccination.
Get tested if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. If you test positive, help loved ones and neighbors by informing your close contacts using “
What to Do If You Get Sick” guidance, which is available in
Spanish,
Amharic,
Arabic, and
Farsi or this brief
video.

This news release is available at
alexandriava.gov/123538.

This press release was produced by the City of Alexandria. The views expressed here are the author’s own.