One Additional COVID-19 Death, Cases in Alexandria Surpass 300 Mark

Another person has died in Alexandria due to COVID-19, bringing the death toll to seven, and the city broke the 300 case mark with 30 new cases.

Alexandria now has 303 positive cases in Alexandria, including the seven fatalities, according to the city’s daily announcement.

The 30 case jump is the largest since the fist case was announced on March 11. There have been 259 new cases in April alone.

The Alexandria Health Department will not release information on the fatalities, and neighborhood-specific data is not available. Close contacts of the fatalities are being contacted by department personnel, including at high-risk settings such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities and health care centers — although the city provided no specific details on which of these was contacted.

Statewide, there are more than 6,800 cases and there have been 208 deaths, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

The full breakdown of the spread so far:

• March 11 — First positive case reported
• March 15 — Second positive case reported
• March  17 — Fourth positive case reported
• March 24 — The number of cases jumps to 13
• March 25 — The number of cases increases to 14
• March 26 — The number of cases increases to 20
• March 27 — The number of cases increases to 24
• March 28 — The number of cases increases to 28
• March 29 — The number of cases increases to 32
• March 31 — The number of cases increases to 44
• April 1 — The number of cases increases to 55
• April 2 — The number of cases increases to 67
• April 3 — The number of cases increases to 77
• April 4 — The number of cases increases to 93
• April 5 — The number of cases increases to 104
• April 6 — The number of cases increases to 130 (First fatality reported)
• April 7 — The number of cases increases to 141
• April 8 — The number of cases increases to 149
• April 9 — The number of cases increases to 170
• April 10 — The number of cases increases to 181
• April 11 — The number of cases increases to 200
• April 12 — The number of cases increases to 225
• April 13 — The number of cases increases to 241 (Second fatality reported)
• April 14 — The number of cases increases to 248 (Third and fourth fatalities reported)
• April 15 — The number of cases increases to 273 (Fifth and sixth fatalities reported)
• April 16 — The number of cases increases to 303 (Seventh fatality reported)

The city issued the following guidance to residents:

Protect Yourself and Others, Especially Vulnerable Community Members

• 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.
• Manage Stress. The CDC recommends taking breaks from exposure to the news; take deep breaths or meditate; try to eat healthy; get sleep or rest; make time to do activities you enjoy; and connect with others to share your feelings.

Photo via Alexandrians Supporting Alexandrians During COVID/Facebook